Kongsberg Maritime has delivered the first of two uncrewed surface vessels (USV) to Norway’s Reach Subsea.
The first USV, named Reach Remote 1, measures 24.9m in length, has a maximum speed of 11kt and a gross tonnage of 230gt.
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The delivery forms part of a contract awarded to Kongsberg Maritime by Reach Subsea in April 2022 to build the first two in a series of Reach Remote USVs.
These USVs are intended to serve as mobile power banks, data centres and communication modules for underwater remotely operated vessels (ROVs).
The Reach Remote project has involved companies including Kongsberg, Trosvik Maritime, Reach Subsea, Massterly, DNV, Kystdesign and the Norwegian Maritime Authorities (NMA).
Reach Subsea Reach Remote vice-president Bjørg Mathisen Døving said: “Reach Remote is an extraordinary journey, bringing together the unique expertise of Kongsberg Maritime, Reach Subsea, and Massterly shaping the future of uncrewed offshore operations. We are thrilled to see the Reach Remote 1 set sail and prepared for its first mission.”
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By GlobalDataThe Reach Remote 1 USV has completed sea trials, managed by DNV and the NMA.
During its sea trials, the USV was operated from a temporary, mobile Remote Operations Centre (ROC) aboard the support vessel Avant.
Credit: Kongsberg Maritime.
The vessel is equipped with advanced Kongsberg technology including hull mounted dual EM2040 multibeam echosounder and a Topas PS120 sub-bottom profiler system.
It is designed to serve as a data gathering platform, employing both hull-mounted technologies and ROV-based survey systems.
Reach Subsea CEO Jostein Alendal said: “A new milestone has been reached, and we are pleased to officially begin demonstrations as part of the pilot project. We are experiencing strong market interest in these USVs and anticipate capitalising on this investment in 2025.”
Reach Remote 1 is now planned to be equipped with subsea equipment for a pilot project involving energy companies such as Equinor, TotalEnergies, and others.
The project will encompass a range of offshore tasks in the North Sea and Norwegian Sea, demonstrating the vessel’s full capabilities.
Massterly, a joint venture between Kongsberg Maritime and Wilhelmsen, plans to manage the USV from a land-based ROC in Horten, Norway.
