Subsea Europe Services enters USV market with inhouse unit

Set to enter service in early 2026, the 4-m, all-electric vessel is designed to simplify USV operations by combining performance, versatility and zero-emissions sustainability.

“Purpose-built for hydrographic surveys, environmental monitoring and offshore asset inspection, the C-RECON 13-ES allows operators to cut survey costs, reduce risk to personnel and expand access to areas where traditional crewed survey vessels are impractical or too expensive,” the company said.

“With a low-logistics launch capability from small vessels or from shore, and a 200-kg payload capacity, the all carbon-fibre design balances practicality and ease of ownership. Zero emissions, battery-powered propulsion enables safe and compliant operation in environmentally sensitive zones, a growing priority across offshore wind, oil and gas and marine science projects.”

SES has drawn on experience configuring and operating third-party USVs to develop a platform that addresses customer needs. Payload integration and sensor management are simplified through SES’s proprietary C-KONTROL technology. This ‘plug and sail’ hardware backbone ensures the smooth installation of a wide range of survey and inspection sensors and accelerates launch readiness.

Additional innovations, such as SES’ tool-free C-Lock quick-mount deck system, universal C-Fit underwater payload interface and C-Caster profiling winch, further simplify vessel setup, helping operators maximise survey time and focus on high-quality data acquisition and delivery.

Available initially in a 4-m configuration, the modular approach SES has taken to manufacturing the Q-RECON means that shorter and longer hull lengths can be accommodated by simply adding or removing ready-made hull sections, such as an extra battery pack or UAV hanger.

SES has already used autonomous systems surveying ports and conducting windfarm impact studies.