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Solstad Offshore, Østensjø Rederi and DeepOcean welcome first USV for subsea IMR
A consortium of Norwegian owners has taken delivery of its first uncrewed surface vessel (USV) for subsea survey, inspection, maintenance and repair work across offshore energy industries
Solstad Offshore, Østensjø Rederi and DeepOcean are preparing to welcome their first USV, built to be provide subsea survey, inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR) work across offshore energy industries.
USV Challenger will soon arrive at DeepOcean’s subsea base at Killingøy, Haugesund, Norway for maritime authority approval and to test its launch and recovery system for remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). It could remain there for up to five months before it enters long-term charter with DeepOcean.
Solstad Offshore, Østensjø Rederi and DeepOcean formed joint venture company, USV, to invest and own uncrewed vessels, particularly for the energy sectors.
USV Challenger will be remotely controlled from an operations centre in Killingøy and will be equipped with several autonomous features, and will be prepared to endure the severe weather conditions encountered in the North Sea.
This 24-m USV was built by Astilleros Gondán shipyard in Spain to a Salt design with a beam of 7.5 m, two very-small aperture satellite communications terminals, a suite of radar and bridge equipment, and hybrid diesel-electric propulsion with a battery package enabling offshore operations for up to 30 days without charging or refuelling.
DeepOcean said CO2 emissions will be more than 90% lower than a conventional offshore vessel’s when conducting subsea IMR operations.
“This USV is fully capable of deploying offshore and conducting subsea operations independently,” said DeepOcean chief executive Øyvind Mikaelsen. “It can serve as a highly cost-effective supplement to larger subsea vessels. Rather than mobilising large vessels for every offshore task, operators can use this USV and its onboard ROV for parts of the subsea installation, survey or IMR scope.”
“By reducing the need for repeated transits of larger vessels, this USV offers significant cost savings. The value proposition is clear – the USV represents a more economical and efficient alternative for a wide range of offshore operations.”
Once ready, Challenger will begin work for Aker BP on infrastructure within the Norwegian Continental Shelf including IMR and survey operations under a frame agreement between the energy company and DeepOcean.
Aker BP contributed to the development of this USV, and both companies share a long-term ambition to move 30% of IMR work from traditional vessels to USVs.
“We are experiencing strong interest from operators who recognise the cost and environmental advantages of integrating the USV as part of their subsea operations”
DeepOcean said it is speaking with other Norwegian operators about using a USV for demonstration projects, with Vår Energi among the participants in a project to demonstrate the USV’s operability and capabilities in 2025.
“We are experiencing strong interest from operators who recognise the cost and environmental advantages of integrating the USV as part of their subsea operations,” said Mr Mikaelsen.
Challenger will be equipped with a fully electric work-class ROV with hydraulic capabilities. It will be capable of operating down to 1,500 m water depth to perform a wide range of subsea operations.
ROV operations
DeepOcean explained how the ROV is outfitted with survey sensors for pipeline survey, seabed mapping and annual inspection work including measurements and cleaning operations.
“It can also interface a fly-out ROV to offer visual inspection support for a larger host ROV in busy, congested and high-risk operating environments,” said the Norwegian company. The ROV can perform 3D scanning of the subsea assets; preprogrammed inspections of subsea assets; and can undertake subsea maintenance and repair work, including light lifting operations, as it is equipped with thrusters and has a through-frame lifting capacity.
It can open hatches on subsea templates; conduct repair work; use torque tools on subsea equipment; run cleaning tools; conduct leak measurement work; connect and disconnect flying leads; perform general commissioning support on subsea equipment; and provide touchdown support for cable-laying operations.
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