Construction of Low-Emission USV for Underwater Maintenance & Inspection

GONDAN Shipbuilders has signed a contract to build an unmanned surface vessel (USV) capable of significantly reducing Co2-emissions when conducting subsea inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR) work.

This strategic collaboration involves USV AS as owner, together with the companies DeepOcean, Solstad and Østensjø Rederi. The first USV is expected to be ready for operations in 2025.

The unmanned vessel will be designed by Salt Ship design, a renowned Norwegian firm specializing in maritime vessel design. The vessel will operate in Norwegian waters, taking advantage of its advanced technology and experience in ocean exploration and maintenance.

The unmanned vessel, with a length of 24 meters and a beam of 7.5 meters, will be notable for its ability to operate remotely from an operation center on shore. It will be equipped with an on-board sensor system that will allow efficient underwater inspection work to be carried out through the launch and recovery of remotely operated vehicles (WROVs) capable of operating down to 1,500 meters water depth.

One of the features of the unmanned vessel will be its autonomy of at least 30 days at sea, achieved with a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system with batteries which will ensure prolonged operability and greater efficiency in underwater maintenance and inspection missions.

According to GONDAN, this partnership demonstrates its ability to work together with industry leaders to deliver innovative solutions for maritime operations and to contribute to the development of advanced technologies that enhance the exploration and preservation of oceans.