EASA-Certified
·
500+ Projects
·
2-Day Turnaround
087 205 2331 Get a Free Quote ›
Get a Free Quote
  1. Home
  2. Services
  3. ROV Underwater Inspection
SUBSURFACE INSPECTION

ROV Underwater
Inspection

Professional remotely operated vehicle inspections for underwater structures, pipelines, and marine assets. Combined aerial and subsurface surveys delivering a complete above-and-below picture of your infrastructure.

ROV inspection pricing from €900 per day

Last updated: April 2026

Get a Free Quote Call 087 205 2331
HD Underwater Video
Sonar Imaging
Combined Aerial + ROV
SURVEY ACTIVE
Deep Trekker DTG3 ROV underwater inspection system, Ireland
EASA & IAA
Certified Operators
€6.5M
Public Liability Insurance
500+
Projects Nationwide
Since 2016
Ireland’s Longest-Serving
Dual
Aerial + Subsurface Capability
What You Receive

Key Deliverables

Every ROV inspection includes comprehensive above-and-below documentation, delivered with clear condition assessments and actionable recommendations.

HD Underwater Video

High-definition video footage of underwater structures, walls, foundations, and submerged assets with LED illumination for clear visibility.

Sonar Survey Data

Acoustic imaging data mapping underwater terrain, structural profiles, and submerged objects even in low-visibility conditions.

Structural Condition Reports

Detailed engineering condition reports documenting structural integrity, defects, corrosion, and deterioration with severity grading.

Sediment Analysis

Assessment of sediment build-up, siltation patterns, and bed conditions around underwater structures and drainage systems.

Marine Growth Assessment

Evaluation of biological fouling, marine growth coverage, and its impact on structural integrity and operational performance.

Combined Aerial-Subsurface Reports

Integrated reports combining aerial drone and ROV data for a complete above-and-below-water picture of your asset condition.

See Above & Below the Waterline
in a Single Survey

Tell us about your underwater inspection requirements and we’ll provide a fixed-price quote. Combined aerial and ROV capability for comprehensive asset assessment.

Get Your Quote 087 205 2331
HD
Underwater Video
100m+
Depth Capability
No
Diver Risk Required
500+
Projects Completed
Our Process

How ROV Underwater Inspections Work

Where the drone inspection ends, the ROV begins. Together they provide complete above and below waterline coverage.

01

Site Assessment & Launch Planning

We review structural drawings to identify the inspection scope: pile caps, soffit surfaces, scour holes, abutments, and any known areas of concern. Launch points are selected based on water depth, current speed, and access. The ROV is typically launched from a bank, bridge deck, or inflatable support vessel.

02

Systematic Underwater Survey

Our ROV system is equipped with HD video cameras, LED lighting, and sonar for zero-visibility water conditions. The operator navigates a systematic pattern covering all submerged structural elements at close range. Live footage is monitored on the surface and recorded for the report. Depth rating allows inspection to 100m.

03

Combined Aerial & Subsurface Pass

We typically operate the drone and ROV on the same mobilisation. The drone captures the above-waterline structure, deck, parapets, and approach spans while the ROV inspects foundations, pile caps, and scour zones. This gives a complete picture of the structure in a single site visit without multiple contractor mobilisations.

04

Integrated Inspection Report

The final report integrates aerial and ROV findings into a single document: annotated imagery, video timestamps, defect catalogue by element, scour depth measurements, and remediation recommendations. The report format follows TII guidelines and is accepted by local authorities and Irish Water for infrastructure asset management purposes.

Where Each Tool Excels

Drone vs ROV: The Right Tool for Each Zone

Drone and ROV are complementary, not competing. Together they cover the full structure from parapet to pile cap.

Drone Covers

  • Deck surface, joints, and drainage channels
  • Parapets, kerbs, and expansion joints
  • Soffit above waterline – span soffits, beams, crossheads
  • Pier shafts and abutment wings above water
  • Access for fascia and edge beam inspection
  • High-resolution photogrammetric orthomap of the full structure

ROV Covers

  • Submerged pier shafts, pile caps, and spread footings
  • Scour development around foundations
  • Undermining and bed material loss
  • Below-waterline soffit – arches, culvert inverts
  • Submerged abutment face and wing walls
  • Quay walls, sea walls, and marine structures below tidal level
Applications

Who Uses ROV Underwater Inspection?

Our combined aerial and subsurface inspection capability supports a wide range of marine and infrastructure projects.

Bridge Substructures

Dam & Weir Inspection

Pipeline Surveys

Quay Wall Assessment

Harbour Maintenance

Environmental Monitoring

Intake & Outfall Structures

Insurance Assessments

The Limits of Visual ROV Inspection

An ROV inspection is a visual survey conducted via HD camera. It identifies and documents visible surface defects – spalling concrete, section loss, marine growth, scour, cracking, and joint failures – at close range without divers. What it cannot do is test the material. Reinforcement corrosion mapping, cathodic protection assessment, concrete strength testing, and physical core extraction all require either divers or physical access to the structure.

Water clarity is also a limiting factor. In turbid estuarine or port environments, visibility can drop to less than 0.5m, reducing the ROV to an obstacle-avoidance exercise rather than a meaningful inspection. For consistently turbid sites, we discuss this upfront and assess whether the survey is likely to produce actionable data before mobilising.

Our Recommendation

Use ROV data to identify the specific elements that need diver access or physical testing. Rather than sending a dive team to a full structure, target them at the areas the ROV has already flagged. The combined approach is safer, faster, and significantly cheaper than blanket physical inspection of structures where most elements are fine.

Our Equipment

Deeptrekker DTG 3 in Action

Underwater ROV inspection and survey work carried out by Drone Services Ireland.

Deeptrekker DTG3 underwater ROV Ireland
Deeptrekker DTG 3 – ready for deployment on a bridge pier underwater inspection
Deeptrekker DTG3 ROV underwater inspection Ireland
DTG 3 ROV in operation – 4K video capture with LED lighting in turbid water conditions
Drone bridge inspection underneath structure Ireland
Bridge pier and abutment survey – combining aerial drone and ROV for full structural coverage
Why Choose Us

Why Choose Drone Services Ireland?

We combine certified aerial expertise with professional ROV capability for complete above-and-below inspections.

Combined Aerial + ROV

Single provider for both drone and underwater inspection, delivering a complete picture of your asset in one mobilisation.

No Diver Risk

ROV inspections eliminate the safety risks and costs associated with commercial diving operations in confined or hazardous waters.

HD Video & Sonar

High-definition cameras with LED illumination plus acoustic sonar imaging for complete visibility even in turbid water.

Fixed Pricing

No hidden costs or hourly rates. You get a clear, fixed price before we start – including all processing and deliverables.

Nationwide Coverage

We operate across all 32 counties in Ireland. No travel surcharges for most locations nationwide.

Rapid Deployment

Lightweight, portable ROV systems that can be deployed quickly without heavy plant or extensive site setup requirements.

How It Works

Three Simple Steps to Your Inspection Data

We handle everything – permits, flight planning, ROV deployment, data processing. You just tell us what you need inspected.

1

Get Your Quote

Tell us about your asset and inspection requirements. We’ll send a fixed-price quote within 24 hours covering both aerial and underwater scope.

2

We Deploy & Inspect

We handle all permissions and deploy drone and ROV systems to capture comprehensive above-and-below-water data in a single site visit.

3

Reports Delivered

Receive your HD video, sonar data, condition reports, and integrated aerial-subsurface assessment within 5 working days.

Get Started Today
See It In Action

ROV Underwater Inspection – Subsurface Survey

BlueROV2 inspection of a bridge pier showing submerged concrete condition and scour assessment.

Coverage

We Cover All 32 Counties

Nationwide ROV and drone inspection coverage across Ireland with no travel surcharges for most locations.

Dublin Cork Galway Limerick Waterford
Kilkenny
Wexford
Kerry
Clare
Mayo
Donegal
Meath
Kildare
Wicklow
Tipperary
Belfast

Plus all remaining counties across Ireland. Contact us for your location.

Explore More

Related Services

Complement your ROV inspection with these additional services.

Bridge Inspection Bridge Inspection” loading=”lazy”> Bridge Inspection” loading=”lazy”>

Bridge Inspection

Comprehensive aerial bridge inspections covering deck, abutments, piers, and superstructure without traffic management.

Learn More
Drone LiDAR river cross-section survey for flood risk modelling, Ireland Bridge Inspection” loading=”lazy”>

Floodplain Mapping

High-accuracy terrain mapping for flood risk assessment, drainage analysis, and OPW-compatible outputs.

Learn More
Environmental Survey Bridge Inspection” loading=”lazy”>

Environmental Survey

Aerial environmental monitoring and habitat assessment for ecological impact studies and compliance reporting.

Learn More
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about our ROV underwater inspection service.

Our ROV systems can operate to depths exceeding 100 metres, suitable for the vast majority of inland waterway, harbour, dam, and coastal infrastructure inspections in Ireland. The ROV is equipped with powerful LED lighting for clear visibility at all depths.
Yes. While HD video performs best in reasonable visibility, our ROV is also equipped with sonar imaging that works effectively regardless of water clarity. This means we can map and assess structures even in zero-visibility conditions common in Irish inland waterways.
Yes. ROV inspections eliminate all diver safety risks including decompression, entanglement, and working in confined spaces. There are no requirements for dive medical certifications, standby divers, or decompression chambers, resulting in lower costs and zero personnel risk.
Yes, this is one of our key strengths. We can deploy both drone and ROV systems in a single site visit, providing a complete above-and-below-water assessment. The integrated report combines aerial photography, thermal imaging, and underwater video for comprehensive asset documentation.
We inspect bridge piers and abutments, dam faces, quay walls, harbour structures, pipeline crossings, intake and outfall structures, fish passes, culverts, and any submerged infrastructure. Our ROV is compact enough for confined spaces yet robust enough for open water operations.
We provide fixed-price quotes based on the scope and complexity of each inspection. ROV inspections typically cost significantly less than commercial diving operations, with no additional expenses for dive teams, safety boats, or decompression equipment. Contact us with your requirements for a no-obligation quote.
Free Quote

Get a Quote for
This Service

Tell us about your project and we’ll respond within 24 hours with a detailed quote.

Free quote within 24 hours
No obligation, no hidden costs
EASA & IAA certified operators
Or call us now: 087 205 2331

Ready to Get Started?

Get a fixed-price quote within 24 hours. No obligation, no hidden costs.

Get a Free Quote 087 205 2331
Fixed pricing, no surprises
We handle all permissions
Deliverables in 2 days
Call Now Get a Quote