Typical duties
- Operate or maintain ROV systems
- Support launch and recovery
- Monitor subsea inspection and intervention
- Maintain technical and shift records
Below the waterline
Subsea & ROV
Technical profiles capture vehicle systems, tooling, hours, project environments and marine safety evidence for subsea operations.
What the work can involve
Typical evidence
- Role-relevant ROV/subsea competence
- Offshore or marine survival training
- Medical fitness evidence
- Electrical/hydraulic qualifications where relevant
Profile fields
- Vehicle classes
- Pilot/technical hours
- Tooling systems
- Vessel and project history
Progression
Trainee pilot/tech → pilot technician → supervisor or superintendent.
Training routes
Training for this role
Subsea & ROV training options.
ROV and subsea routes require specialist technical and logged operational competence. General wind training is not a substitute.
3t supporting routes
Review marine, STCW, electrical, hydraulic and offshore-safety categories while retaining a specialist ROV competence route.
View provider guideFleetwood supporting routes
Review STCW maritime and OPITO offshore-survival training against the vessel and mobilisation route.
View provider guide3t and Fleetwood may supply supporting marine, technical and safety training, but no specialist ROV pilot package is currently confirmed.Review general training guidance
Role pathway guide
Building a credible subsea & rov profile.
Subsea and ROV teams support inspection, survey, intervention, construction and maintenance below the waterline. Roles combine vehicle operation with electrical, hydraulic, electronic and mechanical fault finding.
A useful profile records vehicle classes, control systems, tooling, launch-and-recovery experience, logged pilot or technical hours and the types of projects completed.
Working environment
ROV personnel commonly work from offshore vessels in shift patterns aligned to continuous operations. Sea state, deck operations, equipment reliability and client reporting influence the daily programme.
What employers check
- ROV training route and logged pilot or technician experience
- Vehicle, tooling and control-system familiarity
- Electrical, electronic, hydraulic or mechanical foundation
- Marine/offshore medical and survival evidence for the vessel
A practical starting sequence
- Build a relevant technical foundation
- Record vehicle and tooling experience consistently
- Maintain logbooks and project references
- Check whether the vessel requires STCW or offshore certification
Keep evidence current
Certificate names, numbers, issuing bodies, dates and files must agree. Offshore Personnel records expiry and review status, but the employer and certificate issuer decide whether evidence is accepted for a particular assignment.
Never alter documents or describe supervised exposure as independent competence. Accurate profiles are easier to assess and safer to mobilise.
Common questions
Subsea & ROV questions
Requirements vary by employer, asset and jurisdiction. These answers explain the recruitment approach and the evidence employers commonly assess.
Do ROV roles require an engineering background?
Many employers prefer electrical, electronic, hydraulic or mechanical competence because pilot technicians also maintain and troubleshoot the system.
Is STCW always required for ROV personnel?
Not always. Requirements depend on employment status, vessel arrangements, client rules and jurisdiction. The vacancy specification must be checked.
What ROV experience should be logged?
Record vehicle class, role, project type, hours, tooling, launch-and-recovery activity and technical responsibilities without overstating supervisory authority.