Patent ID: 8109223

Claim:
A method of operating an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), the method comprising: providing a first submersible station that is configured to engage with the AUV, the first submersible station incorporating a ballast device, flow paths and a power supply being a water flow driven generator located subsea, the AUV having an on-board battery, the power supply being configured to charge the on-board battery of the AUV; submerging the first submersible station from a vessel, the flow paths configured to facilitate passage of the submersible station through the water when it is lowered from the vessel; and engaging the AUV with the first submersible station, wherein engaging the AUV with the first submersible station comprises engaging the AUV with the first submersible station on a deck of a support vessel from which the AUV is launched, and wherein submerging the first submersible station comprises launching the AUV and first submersible station into water as a unit.