RENTAL ROV/USBL/SONAR (+ OPERATOR AND TRAINING)

User groups (Users) at Bedford Institute of Oceanography (BIO), which includes Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Department of National Defense, National Resources Canada, and the Canadian Coast Guard, have a requirement for the rental of:

- a fully operational Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) system consisting of an OceanusPro ROV (or equivalent), - an ultra-short baseline acoustic positioning system (USBL), - a SONAR system, - and any associated equipment (i.e. tethers, umbilical, tag lines, etc.) and power supplies, with an experienced operator, and staff training sessions.

One spare system (fully operational) consisting of all the equipment listed is also required due to the nature of the work -- in a remote location with a limited time window to complete the mission.

The equipment is required to be in Resolute Bay NO LATER THAN August 10th, 2023. The equipment could be returned as late as October 31st, 2023.

The operator will be contracted to assist with the mission on board a Coast Guard Vessel for a period of up to 18 days (including travel days), between August 15 and September 2. Two, 2-day training sessions will need to be held between July 10th – August 14th 2023, prior to mission deployment to Barrow Strait. Users will be conducting an inspection and recovery of an underwater cable in Barrow Strait (Nunavut) in August of 2023 from the Coast Guard Vessel NGCC Pierre Radisson.

The intended window of the mission (including travel days) is August 15 – September 2 (18 days). Science personnel and ROV Operator will join the vessel in Resolute Bay on August 15. Travel to the vessel from Resolute Bay will be by Coast Guard helicopter or launch. The vessel will transit east from Resolute to a position roughly 74.606N, 91.251W where, given suitable weather conditions, the team will conduct survey and cable recovery operations. The operator will stay overnight on-shore at the DRDC Camp in Gascoyne Inlet and be escorted on board the vessel each day to complete the required work. We anticipate that the cable operations will span a period of 5 days. The window to conduct these operations will be limited to a period of August 18 – September 2, subject to vessel priorities. Expected travel dates for the operator will be provided two months in advance of the mission, but due to the inherent uncertainty when working in the North, these dates are subject to change on short notice.

The equipment needs to be shipped to Resolute Bay, NU on or before August 10th, 2023. From there, it will be loaded onto a CCGS vessel. The equipment will be stored in a shipping container on board the vessel, or within the ship’s hold, until required. Specialized storage is not available and equipment must maintain full serviceability in storage for at least 2 weeks. It is anticipated that the equipment will be returned to BIO on or before October 31, at which time it will be shipped back to the contractor.

Science personnel will require training to operate the ROV. Training will occur in the Bedford Basin before July 31, 2023. Two, 2-day, training sessions are required. This will provide theory and hands-on operational training on the ROV, USBL and SONAR, for up to 5 BIO personnel involved on this and future missions.

All work will be conducted according to the provisions listed in the associated environment assessment and license agreement provided by the Nunavut Research Institute.