Remotely Operated Cleaning Machine (ROCM)

This Remotely Operated Cleaning Machine - or ROCM - was supplied to diving contractor DCN BV to enable the four cooling water intakes of Hong Kong’s Black Point power station to be cleaned safely and with minimum downtime.

Seatools developed the ROCM concept and built two complete systems, each consisting of a tracked cleaning vehicle and a power and control container. The vehicle cleans the walls and ceiling of the intake with its rotating brushes, which are operated in an automated regime at a controlled force. Marine debris is collected and processed in a crusher, after which it is pumped ashore by a dredge pump via an HDPE hose.  Power and communications to the ROCM are supplied via a 450 metre long, steel-armored umbilical, which is deployed automatically from the vehicle’s built-in winch as the crawler moves forward. The system’s operation is fully automated and only requires an operator for monitoring the process. Sensors inform the operator of the status of the machine and its performance, allowing the speed of the cleaning process to be optimised. 

Seatools is very proud of the fact that it developed and built these machines from scratch in exactly 91 days. Despite the very short delivery time, the machines performed extremely well, each one capable of cleaning a complete 400 metre tunnel in as little as 80 hours.

downloads

• ROCM (0.9 MB)