The client needed a comprehensive subsea inspection of the Met Mast, located off the east coast of Scotland, approximately one hour by vessel from Montrose harbour.

The primary objective was to assess marine growth coverage across the entire structure - from the splash zone down to the seabed at 52 metres - covering the monopile, plinth, caisson, and surrounding rock berm. This data was critical to informing ongoing asset maintenance and ensuring the structural integrity of the mast over time.

A key challenge of the project was to complete the inspection from a small, non-DP (dynamically positioned) windfarm crew vessel, with no space or infrastructure for traditional ROV launch-and-recovery systems. The project also involved strict time constraints and unpredictable visibility conditions which presented further challenges to overcome.

HPR’s previous experience with similar platforms and rapid mobilisation capabilities allowed the client to meet its inspection objectives efficiently, with no disruption to broader offshore activities.

By accessing complex subsea structures in challenging conditions and completing the full inspection scope in a single dive, we reduced time on station and minimised risk to both personnel and equipment.

Overall, the successful deployment of our compact ROV system proved that high-quality subsea inspections can be delivered with a minimal equipment footprint and streamlined logistics. Understanding the condition in the splash zone was a critical part of this scope and HPR’s system is ideal for this type of work where larger ROVs struggle to work in –15m to LAT.