(WO) — Forum Energy Technologies (FET) has introduced a new remote control station designed to allow operators to run remotely operated vehicle (ROV) systems from virtually any location.
The system operates using the company’s ICE® Unity ROV control platform, introduced in 2025, and allows operators to conduct remote subsea operations while monitoring system performance and live data streams.
The platform supports several capabilities, including remote ROV operations, live streaming of survey data, and full system monitoring, including access to FET remote support services and software updates.
The remote station can be supplied with new ROV systems or added as an upgrade to existing systems already operating on the ICE® Unity platform. The package includes FET Subsea advanced control chairs, Remote-Connect gateway enclosures, and VisualSoft video streaming and network player software.
FET says the ability to operate ROV systems remotely could help offshore operators improve flexibility, reduce costs and access specialized expertise while maintaining operational performance and safety.
Kevin Taylor, Vice President – Operations, Subsea Technologies at FET, said: “Innovation is key to FET’s long-term strategy, FET 2030, and this development represents a significant step forward in how ROV operations can be delivered. By enabling full system control from any location, we are giving our customers greater flexibility in how they deploy personnel and manage operational costs, without compromising performance or reliability.”
FET is demonstrating the remote control station during Oceanology 2026, where an ROV is being piloted at the company’s UK headquarters in Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, from a control chair located at the conference in London, roughly 300 km (190 miles) away.
The company said all hardware for the system is manufactured and delivered from its Kirkbymoorside facility and that the new capability is expected to support growing demand across offshore energy, defense and other subsea markets.
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