Fugro and NOAA partner to advance remote deep-ocean mapping
Fugro and NOAA Ocean Exploration have entered into a five-year Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to design and deploy remote and uncrewed technologies that will accelerate deep-ocean mapping and characterisation. This public–private partnership aims to close critical data gaps in one of the least understood parts of our planet, enabling informed decisions about offshore energy, marine resource management and national security.
The collaboration combines NOAA’s scientific and operational expertise with Fugro’s leadership in remote and uncrewed systems. Fugro will contribute its experience designing and operating uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), electric remotely operated vehicles (eROVs) and cloud-based data workflows that link offshore surface platforms and underwater systems with onshore teams in real time. These capabilities will help NOAA explore the deep ocean more efficiently and expand access to scientific data in support of its strategic priorities.
“NOAA Ocean Exploration is on a mission to accelerate the scope, pace and precision of ocean mapping and characterisation, and this strategic partnership will help us do exactly that,” said NOAA Corps Capt. William Mowitt, acting director of NOAA Ocean Exploration. “By enabling remote operations and enhancing the use of innovative technologies, we can reduce costs and expand our reach, unlocking the ocean’s potential at a scale and speed needed to keep pace with America’s growing demands for ocean resources and information.”
“We’re entering an exciting new era of deep ocean mapping, one where data can be collected and delivered without a single person at sea,” said Céline Gerson, Fugro’s Group Director for the Americas and President of Fugro USA. “Our more than 25-year collaboration with NOAA has paved the way for this progress. From introducing remote survey operations on crewed vessels to advancing fully remote, cloud-connected systems, we’re proud to help NOAA shape the future of ocean science through innovation and shared purpose.”
In the coming months, Fugro and NOAA will host joint workshops and demonstrations to launch collaborative projects. These may include new sensor technologies, digital workflows and data integration tools to support habitat mapping and marine environmental assessment. The partnership also supports NOAA’s goals in workforce development, digital infrastructure and public engagement, while helping Fugro refine its remote technologies for broader scientific use.
Saab to lead NATO's new underwater battlespace project
The Saab-led MANGROVE consortium has been selected by NATO to lead the Allied Underwater Battlespace Mission Network project (AUWB-MN). The project formally commenced 1 September 2025 and will deliver interoperability for Maritime Uncrewed Systems and conventional platforms across allied nations.
The project is designing a Reference Architecture and a Test and Reference Environment for a mission network that leverages both crewed and uncrewed systems, above, on and below the water.
The mission network will facilitate rapid and secure information exchange, and integration across domains, supporting combined operations between all branches of the military. The outcome is expected to become a new standard for NATO.
“Saab is delighted to lead this pivotal project for NATO. All of the MANGROVE consortium's expertise and collaborative focus for the next 12 months will be on the successful development of a mission network for NATO’s operations in the underwater battlespace. As all aspects of the underwater domain grow in their strategic significance, this will be a critical contribution to our collective maritime security and defence,” said Mats Wicksell, head of Saab’s business area Kockums.
“The AUWB-MN project is a significant step forward in the modernisation of our warfighting capabilities and the ability for NATO allies to operate effectively together in the underwater domain of the future. We are confident that Saab and the Mangrove consortium will deliver a robust and effective mission network that strengthens NATO's maritime defence,” said David Burton, Project Director, NATO Antisubmarine Warfare Barrier Smart Defence Initiative.
The consortium was selected on 16 July, 2025 and the project is part of NATO's Digital Ocean and Antisubmarine Warfare Barrier Smart Defence Initiative. It is sponsored by twelve different nations led by the UK, together with Sweden, the US, Australia, Spain, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Canada, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway. Together they have committed to adopting the standard developed through this project.
Saab’s business area Kockums is leading the multinational consortium, MANGROVE, comprising CETENA and IDS part of Fincantieri Group, FlySight, GraalTech, Miraya, Saab UK and BlueBear, S2IX and the University of Plymouth.
FET launches new ROV control system
Forum Energy Technologies has unveiled its next generation remotely operated vehicle (ROV) control system – ICE Unity.
In what is a significant leap forward for ROV control technology, the introduction of ICE Unity meets the increasing sector demand for data and control access from outside the core control system.
Key features of ICE Unity include:
- A modern user interface with physical and touchscreen controls;
- One common user interface across different ROVs, minimising operator training;
- And network connectively which allows for remote operations as well as live streaming of survey data, and system monitoring.
Network connectively also enables machine learning, predictive maintenance, and remote support and updates.
Kevin Taylor, FET’s Vice President Operations – Subsea, said: “ICE Unity brings together innovation with seamless collaboration. This a step change in ROV controlling, bringing immense time and cost-saving benefits by enabling remote operations from outside the core control system.
“One major benefit is the ability to monitor performance remotely and reduce downtime by allowing the replacement of components when needed rather than using fixed maintenance intervals.”
The system can be rolled out across FET’s range of ROVs, including observation class, work class and trenching vehicles, both electric and hydraulic. Continuous development will ensure compatibility with the latest sensors and tooling.
FET ROVs are used globally to support underwater industry applications, including in defence, traditional and sustainable energy, telecommunications, mining, aquaculture and academia.
Aker Solutions and Kongsberg Discovery join forces in protecting critical infrastructure
Kongsberg Discovery and Aker Solutions are joining forces to showcase a drone (UAV) detection system in Stavanger, using Kongsberg’s Drone Detection Radar. This marks the beginning of a broader rollout of infrastructure products in the North Sea to enhance situational awareness around offshore assets and transit lanes.
Kongsberg Discovery develops subsurface, acoustic, navigation, and marine robotics systems, including AUVs and USVs. The company’s technologies are used in navigation and infrastructure protection, offering products such as Drone Detection Radar, Mobile Broadband Radio, integrated camera systems, and acoustic solutions for subsea monitoring and surveillance.
Aker Solutions brings integrated energy solutions, enabling low-carbon oil & gas and advancing renewables like offshore wind, CCS, and hydrogen.
Kongsberg Discovery and Aker Solutions plan to implement the drone detection system in phases, starting with a demonstrator at Aker Solutions at the Stavanger site to showcase to potential customers. The system will then be deployed offshore and gradually expanded with camera clusters and underwater sensors to enhance situational awareness.
According to Joachim Hovland, Head of Drones and Robotics in Aker Solutions, this cooperation sets a new standard:“This collaboration marks the beginning of a scalable solution to enhance situational awareness at critical infrastructure, offshore and onshore. By combining Kongsberg Discovery’s technology expertise with Aker Solutions’ integration and domain knowledge, we are setting a new standard for safety and security at sea.”
Later phases include installation on supply vessels, integration with onshore control centres, broader rollout across rigs and vessels, and eventual expansion to other countries. Aker Solutions will act as system integrator, with Kongsberg Discovery as sub-supplier, and the demonstrator will be available for joint customer presentations.
According to Cato Giil Eliassen, VP Infrastructure in Kongsberg Discovery, recent incidents again show the need for establishing a drone detection system in connection with critical infrastructure:
“There have been many observations of drones close to critical infrastructure in the last couple of years. Few are properly documented. This cooperation between Aker Solutions and Kongsberg Discovery will provide the end customer with proper tools to monitor, record and document illegal, as well as legal, UAV activity around installations.”
For further information please see https://www.kongsberg.com/discovery
Sulmara expands to Bristol with new CIO and AI/ML Innovation Hub
International subsea survey and inspection company Sulmara has opened a new office in Bristol, strengthening its technical leadership and accelerating innovation in subsea data solutions.
The new office is now home to a specialist team, focusing on enterprise data infrastructure, software development and data analytics driven by artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML). They will help transform how offshore survey data is collected, processed, and delivered, and their work will reduce the number of people working offshore, improve survey accuracy, and shorten project timelines.
At the heart of this move is the appointment of Richard Goodwin as Chief Information Officer (CIO). Based in Bristol, Richard will lead Sulmara’s global technical development & operations, driving the integration of AI/ML, cloud, and automation into subsea survey workflows.
Richard brings more than 25 years of experience, including two decades at Capgemini where he held global senior leadership roles across AI/ML, infrastructure, security, and solution architecture. His background spans multiple sectors – including marine and subsea – giving him the expertise to tackle some of the industry’s toughest data and technology challenges.
“This is more than just a new office – it’s a highly experienced team ready to deliver from day one,” said Richard. “With AI and machine learning, we see a huge opportunity to transform underwater exploration – making it safer, faster, and more precise than ever before.”
Kevin McBarron, CEO at Sulmara, added: “We’re really pleased to welcome Richard and the wider team to Sulmara as they settle into our new Bristol office. They bring a high level of technical skill, professionalism, and a collaborative spirit that aligns with how we work as a company.
“Having this team in place adds further depth to the expertise we offer our clients, and we’re genuinely looking forward to working together.”
The Bristol hub will focus on developing tools for tasks such as UXO identification, seafloor target picking, and boulder detection, all critical to reducing project risk and enabling greater adoption of remote technologies.
This expansion reflects Sulmara’s commitment to data-driven innovation and to providing clients with faster, safer, and more efficient subsea services.
To find out more about Sulmara, please visit www.sulmara.com.
Exail achieves world first with 1,100-nautical-mile autonomous USV transit across Gibraltar Strait
Exail has achieved a major milestone in maritime autonomy with its DriX O-16 transoceanic uncrewed surface vehicle (USV). The 16-meter platform has just completed an unprecedented 1,100-nautical-mile (2,000 km) transit from La Ciotat – France, to Troia – Portugal, to join NATO’s REPMUS 2025 exercise.
Sailing past the Balearic Islands and through the Strait of Gibraltar, one of the world’s busiest maritime passages, the DriX O-16 completed the voyage in six days without port calls. Operated in supervised autonomy from Exail’s Remote Operation Center (ROC) in La Ciotat, the mission demonstrated endurance, situational awareness, and reliable decision-making in dense traffic.
A decisive step in operational maturity
This long-range deployment confirms the robustness, safety, and operational readiness of Exail’s surface drone technology. More than a symbolic crossing, it provides concrete proof that large USVs can be remotely supervised across open waters and constrained sea lanes, arriving fully mission-capable in theater without heavy logistical support. During the transit, the DriX O-16 also conducted seabed mapping operations with a Kongsberg EM304 multibeam echosounder, further demonstrating its capacity to deliver valuable data while underway.“With this unprecedented long-range transit, Exail’s DriX O-16 shows that large USVs are now an operational reality,” said Sébastien Grall, Head of Maritime Autonomy Solutions at Exail. “As the first uncrewed platform to successfully execute such a mission, it sets a new benchmark in surface autonomy—safe, reliable, and mission-ready.”
STR Expands Rental Fleet with applied acoustics Pyxis INS + USBL Systems
applied acoustics has partnered with global subsea equipment rental specialist, STR, to enhance their USBL capabilities by adding applied acoustics Pyxis INS + USBL systems to STR’s inventory.
The Pyxis INS + USBL system is a fully integrated positioning solution that combines applied acoustics’ advanced and globally trusted USBL technology with a leading inertial navigation system (INS). This calibration-free USBL system generates exceptional subsea tracking data. With common interrogation frequencies, MiQ data telemetry and the ability to track 16 targets, the Pyxis system is ideal for a wide range of offshore applications, particularly unexploded ordnance (UXO) surveys.
Hollie Moran, Sales & Marketing Manager at applied acoustics, stated, “I am delighted that STR has added Pyxis systems to their rental equipment portfolio, allowing their customers to benefit from the advantages of our most accurate USBL system to date.”
As a calibration-free system, the Pyxis INS + USBL is highly portable and ready to deploy from any vessel upon arrival at the work site. The MEMS-based INS does not fall under ITAR regulations, and the range-restricted option means the entire system can be shipped easily, without export control, to nearly any location worldwide. A key feature of the Pyxis system is that operators can deactivate the range restriction in the field under an export-controlled regime.
Raymond Forsyth, Group Technical Director at STR, added “STR is a leading subsea equipment and services provider to the offshore renewables, oil and gas and marine sciences markets.”
applied acoustics is an independent designer and manufacturer of highly regarded subsea electronic-acoustic products. Founded in 1989, the company has an established international client base covering many industry sectors, backed up by overseas offices and service centres and supported by a dedicated global distributor network.
Find more information on the Pyxis INS + USBL system here.
BIO-UV Group develops containerised ballast water treatment for floating offshore wind
BIO-UV Group, the global leader in UV-based water treatment solutions, has successfully developed and tested a containerised ballast water treatment system designed initially for the floating offshore wind sector.
With the rapid development of floating offshore wind projects globally, ballast water compliance challenges have emerged because the movement of these floating platforms across territorial waters requires systems to prevent the spread of invasive marine species.
“While the maritime industry has made significant strides in ballast water compliance, the floating offshore wind sector is just beginning to recognise its obligations under the Ballast Water Management Convention. Our system offers a portable, scalable solution that meets these needs effectively,” said Charlene Ceresola, Project Manager at BIO-UV Group.
The initiative, funded in 2024 through the European Union’s ELBE EUROCLUSTER programme, was to adapt BIO-UV’s type-approved BIO-SEA for deployment in a standard TEU container, allowing operators to treat ballast water on-site during floating windmill assembly, transport, and maintenance.
Initial trials focused on a 300m3/h capacity containerised BIO-SEA B02-0340 unit installed at the Euroports-operated Port-la-Nouvelle, in France.
The main difference with onboard systems is the need to dispose of filter backwashed water at the place of discharge, which requires a separate waste treatment line. The prototype’s operation was evaluated through real-world testing, addressing challenges like connection compatibility, pressure drops, and on-site power limitations.
These tests validated the unit’s capability to provide the approved BIO-SEA dual-stage treatment – filtration and UV exposure – ensuring compliance with the regulatory requirement, as well as the ability of handling backwash effluents, transforming them into manageable waste for land-based disposal.
While biological trials were limited by external factors, such as sampling challenges and variability in water conditions, initial results showed promise. Discharge water has met the D-2 standard in all operations.
The first phase of the project, spanning January to June 2024, focused on engineering and testing the containerised solution. Phase Two, running from July to December 2024, expanded the scope to include market analysis and stakeholder engagement, laying the groundwork for future iterations.
“The modularity and portability of this solution make it ideal not only for offshore wind projects but also for emergency use by ships facing ballast water management system failures,” said Ceresola.
For instance, portable units could be leased or purchased and deployed on barges or in ports to assist vessels with inoperable ballast water management systems, ensuring compliance with environmental standards during unexpected breakdowns. This capability would fill a critical gap in current maritime operations, offering ports and shipping companies a reliable and effective contingency plan.
For the offshore wind sector, meanwhile, BIO-UV Group has provided the first commercial roll-out of a containerised unit this year under a “ballast as a service” rental scheme, enabling water treatment at any location.
The success of the ELBE project has already attracted interest from Mediterranean ports, including those participating in the EU’s Treasure program – a series of R&D projects aimed at improving harbour water management and other environmental efficiencies, said Ceresola.
“We can now provide ports and harbours with a practical, scalable solution that enables more industries to manage water responsibly. This project underscores our commitment to innovation and sustainability, paving the way for a cleaner, more resilient future.”
OceanWise and UKHO Continue to Strengthen Global Tide and Sea Level Data Coverage with New Installation on Grand Turk Island
OceanWise, as part of its framework agreement with the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO), has expanded global tide and sea level monitoring with the installation of a new Marine Environmental Monitoring Station (MEMS) in Grand Turk, part of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
This latest deployment builds on the successful roll-out of MEMS at sites across the Caribbean, South Atlantic, and Indian Ocean, further strengthening the UKHO’s global programme.
The MEMS tide gauge installed in Grand Turk will help fill a critical data gap in the region, providing high-quality, real-time sea level and tide data to support safe navigation, charting, and wider environmental applications.
“We’re proud to continue supporting the UKHO in this important programme,” said Caroline Levey, Managing Director at OceanWise. “The installation at Grand Turk demonstrates the practical benefits of collaborative data collection – helping to improve safety and resilience in coastal regions that are particularly vulnerable to changing ocean conditions.”
The Grand Turk installation represents another step in UKHO’s long-term commitment to improving access to accurate hydrographic data, particularly in remote or underserved locations. Each MEMS station contributes to global maritime safety, disaster preparedness, and evidence-based decision-making – and data from the stations are already being shared via the GLOSS (Global Sea Level Observing System) network.
OceanWise’s role in the programme includes the supply and configuration of equipment including tide gauges, met stations, commissioning, training, and the integration of real-time data into the OceanWise Port-Log platform, ensuring information is reliable, accessible to whoever needs it, and secure.
The Grand Turk installation is part of a wider strategic vision to support the International Hydrographic Organization’s S-100 framework and modernise the way sea level data is captured and shared worldwide.
Nordic USV expands fleet with two additional REAV‑47 Uncrewed Vessels from HydroSurv
Following the successful deployment of USV Bris, HydroSurv today announced the build and phased delivery of two additional REAV‑47 hybrid uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) to Nordic USV A/S in Norway. The expansion will see USV Kuling and USV Storm join the fleet to scale up autonomous survey operations along Norway’s coastline.
The first REAV-47 USV Bris, marked a major milestone in uncrewed marine operations. Since its deployment to Mo i Rana in northern Norway, Bris has been operated entirely remotely from Nordic USV’s control centre in Bergen which is 786 km from Nordic USV’s Bergen HQ. In a pioneering demonstration of remote autonomy, USV Bris recently completed a 320 km mission in 41 hours for Aqua Kompetanse AS, sailing between Ranfjorden and Velfjorden to map hydrographic conditions with no field personnel on site.
The vessel continues to support complex environmental and coastal monitoring missions with high-endurance, low-emission performance. Building on the success of USV Bris, HydroSurv has commenced on-water trials for USV Kuling, the second REAV‑47 in the fleet. Once complete, the vessel will be transported to Bergen, Norway. The third platform, USV Storm, is now in final production stages and will follow in delivery shortly thereafter. The expanded fleet will allow Nordic USV to respond to growing demand for sustainable, scalable survey operations throughout Norway’s coastal and fjord systems.
All vessels are based on HydroSurv’s commercial-duty REAV-47 platform, featuring a 72-hour hybrid-electric endurance capability and fully integrated payload systems for deepwater profiling, bathymetric mapping and remote operations. HydroSurv and Nordic USV continue to collaborate closely on future REAV‑47 variants. This next phase of partnership reflects both companies’ shared commitment to advancing low-impact, autonomous technologies that meet the evolving needs of the ocean science and monitoring sector.