SEAMOR Marine has released a case study that highlights the growing importance of unmanned systems in rapid response scenarios and undersea operations.
A SEAMOR Chinook remotely operated vehicle (ROV) played a key part in investigating the crash of a Boeing 737 cargo plane off the coast of Hawaii.
The incident occurred when Transair Flight 810 experienced critical engine failure shortly after takeoff from Honolulu, forcing the pilots to ditch the aircraft in the Pacific Ocean. While both crew members were rescued, the wreckage came to rest on the seafloor at depths of up to 420 feet – too deep for human divers to safely investigate.
Faced with this challenge, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) turned to Sea Engineering, Inc. (SEI) and their SEAMOR Chinook ROV to locate and survey the crash site. The Chinook’s robust design, powerful thrusters, and advanced features made it ideal for this demanding task. SEI utilized their SEAMOR Chinook ROV in partnership with a Side Scan Sonar to locate and document the sunken cargo plane. An industrial strength remotely operated vehicle in a compact form, the Chinook’s rugged yet sleek design coupled with its powerful thrusters afforded SEI the nimble maneuverability and ultimate control they needed.
Key capabilities of the SEAMOR Chinook deployed in this mission included:
- High maneuverability in challenging ocean conditions
- Real-time position monitoring via ultra-short-base wavelength transponder and Hypack Navigation
- High-quality imaging with a 180-degree rotating camera and 30x zoom
- 3,000 Lumens of dimmable lighting for clear underwater visibility
Image of Flight 810’s wreckage captured by SEAMOR’s Chinook ROV.
SEI’s team successfully located and documented all components of the downed aircraft within just three days, providing invaluable data to NTSB investigators. The high-resolution imagery captured by the Chinook offered detailed views of the wreckage, crucial for determining the cause of the crash.
Andrew Rocheleau, President of Sea Engineering, Inc., praised the Chinook’s performance, saying; “The SEAMOR Chinook continues to be dependable, fast to mobilize, and produces quality data for our projects and clients. It played a key role in our ability to locate and survey the plane within a week of the NTSB first arriving in Honolulu.”
The SEAMOR Chinook’s success in this high-stakes mission demonstrates the potential for ROVs to enhance safety, efficiency, and effectiveness across a wide range of maritime applications.
For more information on SEAMOR Marine’s ROV solutions and their applications in challenging underwater environments, visit their website >>
