Patent ID: 8577288

Claim:
A subsea transfer system comprising: a mobile subsea vehicle further comprising: a first acoustic transceiver for providing wireless data communications and/or positioning signaling; a first radio transceiver for providing wireless data communications and/or position signaling; a first inductive power connector and a first data processor for controlling interaction between said first acoustic transceiver, said first radio transceiver and said first inductive power connector and a subsea station further comprising: a second acoustic transceiver for providing wireless data communications and/or positioning signaling; a second radio transceiver for providing wireless data communications and/or position signaling; a second inductive power connector and a second data processor for controlling interaction between said second acoustic transceiver, said second radio transceiver and said second inductive power connector wherein, during use, said subsea transfer system provides wireless data transfer, electrical power transfer and navigation between said mobile subsea vehicle and said subsea station and further wherein, during use, said first and second data processors are operable to select between said acoustic transceiver system or said radio transceiver system for use in data communications and/or navigation based on the quality of service available from each transceiver and further wherein, during use, navigation data provided by radio and/or acoustic transceivers is operable to achieve docking of said first and said second inductive power connectors to allow transfer of electrical power between said mobile subsea vehicle and said subsea station.