UK-based Rovco has announced plans to double its workforce as it prepares for further global expansion following a robust year of growth for the company.
The subsea ROV and hydrographic company has successfully secured inspection and survey projects across the globe in industries including oil and gas and renewables (wind and wave), as well as securing its first environmental survey using detailed 3D modelling. Over this period, the company has grown from 3 to 19 staff and is on course to double its headcount by the end of 2019.
To accommodate its rapidly expanding team, the firm recently relocated to larger premises in Bristol. The new 2,200 sq ft office space will also house a research and development laboratory, where Rovco will conduct further studies into underwater artificial intelligence and live 3D computer vision.
With a number of projects in the pipeline and plans in place to purchase a fleet of autonomous vehicles, Rovco is in a strong position to further expand its ROV and AUV service offering to ensure its customers benefit from the latest subsea technologies on the market.
Brian Allen, CEO of Rovco, said: “This is an exciting time for the company and we have identified a number of opportunities to grow our business. We are seeing a more optimistic outlook across the industry and our plans for the next 12-months reflect this.
“We have a number of key regions where we see opportunity for expansion, with a focus on oil and gas in the UK, Europe, Asia Pacific, North and West Africa markets. We are also looking to expand our offshore wind contracts in the UK and Europe.
“A key part of our growth strategy is investing in R&D, we already offer innovative solutions for subsea survey, but over the next 12-months we plan to invest another £2m-3m in our technology. We are looking at projects including applied artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicle path planning and live 3D underwater computer vision.
“Our commitment to R&D ensures we continue to be at the top of our game and can deliver our services at the highest level. We are confident that our investment in equipment and people will enable us to meet our ambitious growth targets.”
With an expanding fleet of ROVs, from micro to medium-sized inspection vehicles, Rovco has the resources required to provide inshore/offshore surveys and inspections anywhere in the world. Offering a unique approach to technical subsea challenges, Rovco has the expertise to deliver a high quality and efficient solution for underwater hydrographic survey and inspection services, using high resolution state-of-the-art 4K cameras, high definition multibeam echosounders and various leading-edge survey technologies.
