Scottish company bags funding to develop over-the-horizon USV

Scottish subsea surveys and inspections provider Sulmara has secured funding from the Aberdeen-based Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC) to develop an over-the-horizon (OTH) uncrewed surface vessel (USV) with the ability to launch and recover towed sensor packages.

The project will deliver a platform designed and certified according to the UK MCA Workboat Code 3 standards for operation in UK waters.

Sulmara will enhance its Glasgow-based remote operations center (ROC), which manages OTH projects globally. Alongside developing a USV solution, Sulmara said it will create a cloud-based customer data portal for mission tasking, improving customer interaction throughout the project lifecycle.

Technology partners Maritime Robotics and Lidan Marine will contribute their expertise in USV and remote launch and recovery systems. Industry partners, including Harbour Energy, will provide access to subsea assets for commercial proof of concept demonstrations of the USV with towed hardware and the cloud portal data delivery.

“This pilot solution represents a significant leap forward in autonomous operations, offering cutting edge capabilities and performance. We believe this mission package will empower Sulmara to conduct more efficient and cost-effective operations, ultimately driving advancements in maritime exploration and resource management towards a Net Zero energy sector,” said Lidan Marine Chief Commercial Officer, Thomas Jonsson. 

The development aims to offer an environmentally friendly method for data acquisition to support offshore energy asset decommissioning. This includes seabed verification, marine growth monitoring, environmental and critical component monitoring, and 3D imaging of subsea infrastructure.

The systems will have specific design elements incorporated to provide pre- and post-construction data acquisition for offshore renewables, similar to those in oil and gas, to accelerate decarbonization in the marine industry, said Sulmara.

“This project is a culmination of the investment Sulmara has made so far in the commercialisation of USV technology and, by broadening the payload that can be deployed from a remote vehicle, will provide a new foundation for Sulmara to further challenge the conventions of offshore data acquisition,” said Sulmara CTO, Andy Doggett.

“The next step in this evolution is to dynamically tow advanced geophysical sensors that are launched and recovered from an uncrewed platform. Our goal is that by proving this technology in an active offshore environment, we can push the industry to examine their supply chain and how remote systems can yield not only environmental and HSE benefits, but ultimately reduce the cost of data acquisition over time.”

The NZTC was created in 2017 as part of the Aberdeen City Region Deal, with £180 million of UK and Scottish government funding to maximize the potential of the North Sea.