Elevating Offshore Wind Farm Operations in Asia Pacific

Revolutionary Intelligent Underwater Solution for Offshore Wind: From Construction Monitoring to In-Service Inspections
As large-scale offshore wind projects advance, the FIFISH Underwater Robot is emerging as the key equipment to boost structural inspection efficiency, operational safety, and data reliability—effectively meeting the technical challenges posed by rapid industry growth.

Project Location: Asia-Pacific
Implementation Time: August 2023

Overcoming Offshore Wind Construction Monitoring Challenges

Building foundations for offshore wind farms involves complex, high-risk operations, including seabed preparation, monopile surveying, and grout-seal quality control. Traditional methods rely on diver visual inspections (DVI) and contact-based checks, which are lengthy, costly, and carry substantial HSE (Health, Safety, and Environment) risks—particularly under harsh marine conditions.

Key technical hurdles include controlling the grouting gap for foundation piles, assessing the integrity of scour protection layers, and conducting real-time monitoring of the grouting process. The primary objectives are to streamline workflows, upgrade risk management protocols, and ensure data visualization for quicker decision-making—tasks ideally suited to next-generation AI-enabled underwater robot inspection systems.

Transforming Underwater Inspection with an Intelligent ROV

The project team deployed the offshore-grade FIFISH Underwater Robot, equipped with in-house developed Doppler Velocity Log (Q-DVL), a 4K dual-camera system, and omnidirectional control algorithms to execute critical tasks.

Upon arrival at the site, Q-DVL technology enabled the FIFISH robot to stay stable even in strong currents (up to approximately 2.5 knots), while its compact, streamlined design allowed entry into tight spaces—such as internal sections of foundation piles—for more efficient sediment analysis and removal. Utilizing high-resolution 4K dual cameras, operators obtained precise real-time observations and recordings. These enhanced features significantly reduced both manual intervention and operational risk, saving time and improving safety.

A Revolutionary Leap in Inspection Accuracy and Efficiency

During actual operations, the FIFISH Underwater Robot demonstrated multiple groundbreaking advantages:

· Highly Efficient Subsurface Measurements
Accurately gauged sediment thickness inside foundation piles, guiding dredging or cleaning equipment with precision.

· Real-Time Grout Monitoring
Data was transmitted through the robot’s tether cable to a topside control room, enabling informed decision-making on the spot.

· Cost and Time Savings
Quantitative analysis showed that inspection time was reduced by about 30%, minimizing downtime while delivering more accurate results than traditional methods.

· Enhanced Safety, Lower Risk
Especially crucial in rough weather conditions, the robot replaces or reduces diver involvement in dangerous tasks. Even in harsh environments, it maintains continuous operation without compromising reliability.

Leading the Transformation of Offshore Wind Underwater Inspections

From construction-phase monitoring to in-service inspections, FIFISH delivers a full-process subsea solution for the offshore wind sector. By overcoming obstacles like narrow access, rough sea states, and the need for precise measurements, it streamlines workflows, cuts costs, raises efficiency, and reduces risks—driving high-quality growth in the industry.

This successful project marks a shift from experience-based to data-driven inspection methods, providing a reusable technical roadmap for large-scale offshore wind turbine installations. Foundational structure data collected by the FIFISH ROV system also supports full lifecycle asset integrity management. As the offshore wind sector continues evolving toward unmanned, digitalized, and intelligent operations, the FIFISH Underwater Robot stands at the forefront—offering pivotal technological support for reducing the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) and shaping the future of offshore wind engineering services.