OMS Group Expands Subsea Survey Fleet With Second Exail DriX O-16

OMS Group and Exail have announced the acquisition of a second DriX O-16 Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) to support the increasing global demand for subsea telecommunications infrastructure.

This second vessel joins the first DriX O-16, named USV Elite, which is slated for launch in mid-2026. Working in tandem, the two autonomous platforms will perform critical seabed surveys, route verification, and monitoring for large-scale cable installation campaigns across the globe.

The DriX O-16 is engineered for high-performance offshore missions, featuring an operational endurance of up to 30 days and a range of approximately 3,500 nautical miles. By utilizing these autonomous platforms, operators can significantly reduce reliance on traditional crewed vessels. The hardware is equipped with advanced sensor suites, including the Kongsberg EM124 multibeam echo sounder, which provides the high-resolution seabed mapping necessary for complex subsea projects.

Ronnie Lim, Group Chief Executive Officer of OMS Group, stated, “As global demand for subsea digital infrastructure continues to grow, advanced survey capability has become increasingly important. The deployment of the DriX O-16 strengthens our ability to deliver high-quality seabed data with greater safety, lower emissions, and improved operational resilience, particularly for long-duration and remote offshore missions.”

The integration of these vessels is part of a broader expansion of the OMS Group survey ecosystem. This roadmap includes the deployment of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles and the creation of a Remote Operation Centre in Singapore. This facility will allow for remote supervision, real-time data validation, and the coordination of multi-vehicle operations.

Olivier Cervantes, VP Maritime Autonomy Solutions, said, “The subsea cable market is expanding rapidly, driven by global connectivity needs. Our DriX O-16, equipped with an EM124 multibeam echo sounder, provides cable-laying operators with the endurance and seabed coverage required to support complex installation campaigns. The use of USVs can reduce the survey carbon footprint by up to 99%, decrease human exposure at sea, and offer greater operational flexibility while maintaining high data quality.”

The DriX range, which includes the H-8, H-9, and O-16 models, is designed to provide scalable autonomous solutions for the evolving offshore market. For Exail, the partnership underscores the role of uncrewed systems in modernizing maritime infrastructure development.