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ROVOP invests in new HQ and ROV facilities

Published by , Senior Editor
Oilfield Technology,


Subsea specialist ROVOP has marked a major milestone in its business growth success after revealing that is investing more than £4 million in a new purpose-built headquarters (HQ) including training facilities, a full ROV underwater test facility and an internal 40 t overhead crane.

The next generation facility at Aberdeenshire’s Westhill area – known as the subsea industry’s SURF City - will also bring the company’s extensive fleet of ROVs and its ROV Academy under one roof.

In addition, the HQ will feature high-quality offices including break-out amenities as well as full maintenance facilities including electrical and hydraulic workshops, ROVOP’s £250 000 ROV simulator and an enclosed car park with more than 50 spaces.


From left to right: ROVOP Director and General Manager, Barry Stewart; Construction Director at Chap Construction, Jim Young; and ROVOP Managing Director, Steven Gray.

The three-storey HQ which will span 1700 m (18 500 ft2) in total at Silvertrees Business Park and be able to accommodate up to 120 members of staff.

ROVOP, which is currently based at neighbouring Arnhall Business Park in Westhill, has experienced exceptional growth since recognising a gap in the market in 2011 for an independent company which is 100% focused on providing ROV services to the oil & gas and offshore wind industries.

Steven Gray, Managing Director at ROVOP, said: “Establishing our own HQ is the next step in ROVOP’s evolution and enables us to build upon our specialist services in one hub, which is a major development from working across three sites.

“The addition of the test tank will also allow us to carry out maintenance or fit sensors and tooling and then wet test our ROVs on site ahead of their deployment offshore, as well as use them for demonstration and training purposes. With work contracted already as far ahead as 2020, we look forward to our new HQ providing us with the scope to grow our team and fleet to continue to meet future demand for high quality ROV services.”

The new HQ will support the company’s investment in its own ROV Academy with the creation of additional training and office breakout facilities. The academy has been developed to ensure a supply of the most competent offshore personnel, predominantly pilot-technicians for its fast-evolving fleet of ROVs, and includes a £250 000 simulator.

Chartered architects Halliday Fraser Munro designed ROVOP’s business complex while Aberdeen-based Chap Construction is undertaking the work for the development, which is expected to be complete in December 2014.

Douglas Thomson, Managing Director at Chap, said: “ROVOP had unusual requirements for their project due to their need to handle, maintain and provide training for ROV systems within their building. The very large internal crane, with a high under-hook height, large test tank, and flexible training rooms meant significant time and effort was invested upfront in designing and engineering a building specifically for a specialist ROV company.

“ROVOP had a requirement to maintain its open and transparent culture resulting in the use of open plan office areas and large glass walls connecting the workshop, training and office areas. We are very pleased to be delivering a project with a client so focused on obtaining the highest specification of building at a location ideally suited to a subsea company.”

ROVOP’s success is attributed to its focused approach in using only the most advanced equipment, which includes the most sophisticated diagnostics and automated control systems with highly-experienced operators and second to none service, helping to avoid downtime in the field and minimising risks.

Through building a solid track record and attracting considerable repeat business, ROVOP’s team has grown to more than 130 people in three years while the company has become an approved supplier to some of the world’s largest oil and gas and subsea construction companies. Last year, ROVOP also attained ISO 9001 accreditation for its integrated management system by DNV.

Edited from source by Elizabeth Corner

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/drilling-and-production/16102014/rovop-invests-in-new-hq-and-rov-facilities/

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