Since January 2023, the Agency offers to the EU-EEA national authorities, free of charge and on-demand, underwater survey services through Observation-class Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) to support safety investigations, maritime safety and security, pollution prevention and response and maritime surveillance within the Agency’s remit.
The ROV fleet is composed of three, light (less than 20 kg), highly deployable underwater platforms that, although compact, can embed various payloads, including sonar, HD camera, grabber, measurement laser and water sampler (e.g. to collect polluted water to be analysed).
Two distinct types of service are foreseen: "ROV ONLY" and "FULL". "ROV ONLY" does not require the contractor to procure a support vessel. In contrast, the contractor shall charter a suitable support vessel for type "FULL". When the target's position on the seabed is unknows, EMSA can pair the ROV operations with preliminary sonar surveys via multibeam (MBES) and Side-Scan Sonar (SSS) to precisely locate the target.
The theoretical operational depth is 150m, yet the ROV could operate at higher deep depending on local conditions and ad-hoc assessment.
This operational service can be deployed, for real operations and exercises, within European waters and beyond.
Requests for the service should be channeled via the national points of contact (i.e. Accident Investigative Bodies).

Stakeholder Forum: Underwater Services User Group