System and method for managing the buoyancy of an underwater vehicle

摘要

An ROV buoyancy management system comprises an ROV 116 with a ballast tank 312 and a first connector 318 mounted on the ROV and in fluid communication with the ballast tank. The system further comprises a gas storage means 356 separate from the ROV and a second connector 350 in fluid communication with the gas storage means. On mating of said first and second connectors gas can be transferred from the gas storage means to the ballast tank. In a further embodiment the ROV may also be provided with a gas storage means 304 and gas transfer may be between the two gas storage means. A method of operating the system allows the ballast tank of the ROV to be repetitively recharged as required to control the buoyancy of the ROV while moving underwater payloads (122, Fig 1).