Abstract: An underwater excavating tool can generate a downward directed jet of water from a propeller in a main thruster body connected to a surface vessel by an umbilical. The umbilical can include an outer armored sheath that supports an underwater weight of the excavating apparatus, a data cable carrying signals from a controller unit on a surface vessel, and a power cable that supplies electrical power to operate the propeller and other functions of the excavating apparatus. One or more of the orientation, position, and rotation of the main thruster body can be controlled remotely by adjusting two or more positional thrusters mounted radially on the main thruster body. Remote control can be provided using the signals carried via the data cable. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles are also described.