Apparatus for hydrostatic testing of items having a flanged opening, such as flanged pipe sections, which apparatus contains a actuator having a actuator shaft attached to a blind flange, which actuator can be powered from a power source on a remotely operated vehicle, which items include those items located on land as well as subsea. Also provided is a remotely operated vehicle having a power source such as a hydraulic system that is used to operate the actuator on the hydrostatic testing apparatus.