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Xocean secures €115 million investment to accelerate growth of its ocean data services platform

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Xocean, a provider of ocean data to the offshore energy and civil hydrography sectors, has closed a €115 million fundraise that will help support its ongoing growth across the company’s expanding global footprint.

The company partnered with S2G Ventures to structure the round, which was funded by S2G, Climate Investment, Morgan Stanley’s 1GT fund, and an affiliate of the Crown Family’s CC Industries, collectively referred to as “the investor consortium”.

This financing will support Xocean in accelerating the growth of its platform servicing the offshore energy and civil hydrography sectors. It will also help enable the company’s geographic expansion and product innovation efforts to meet the rapidly growing demand for high-quality data solutions across the blue economy. [Read more…] about Xocean secures €115 million investment to accelerate growth of its ocean data services platform

Fugro pioneers uncrewed subsea inspections in Brazil for Petrobras

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Petrobras, a Brazilian multinational petroleum industry giant, has signed a 175-day addendum to Fugro’s current inspection, repair and maintenance services contract, performed by the Fugro Aquarius, to include fully remote subsea inspection surveys of shallow-water infrastructure in Brazil.

Work will begin in January, leveraging Fugro’s advanced Blue Essence uncrewed surface vessel (USV) and Blue Volta electric remotely operated vehicle (eROV) technology to enhance inspection safety, efficiency, and sustainability.

The contract marks Fugro’s first use of these innovations in the Americas, following successful applications in Australia, the UK, and the Middle East. [Read more…] about Fugro pioneers uncrewed subsea inspections in Brazil for Petrobras

SeaTrac and Sonardyne gather data from the Gulf of Mexico current

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Important oceanographic data from Atlantic Ocean currents in the US Gulf of Mexico has been gathered fully remotely, thanks to Sonardyne technology and an uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) supplied by SeaTrac Systems.

A number of Sonardyne Origin 65 Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) and Current Pressure Inverted Echo Sounders (CPIES) are currently on the seabed in the Gulf of Mexico gathering long term data on the Loop Current System (LCS).

Understanding the LCS is important for oceanographers as it has a wide-reaching impact on many areas including the disruption of subsea operations, hurricane intensity and changes to nutrient and food cycles important to marine life. [Read more…] about SeaTrac and Sonardyne gather data from the Gulf of Mexico current

USM and SeaTrac partner to test uncrewed marine vehicle in offshore hypoxia mapping

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Utilizing autonomous uncrewed vehicles and creating a sustainable US Gulf Coast continues to be one of the main goals for the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and its partnership with SeaTrac Systems.

Together, they embarked on a 14-day mission to analyze potential hypoxia levels in the Gulf and its effect on the future of marine life.

Also known as dead zones, hypoxia zones are areas in which oxygen levels in water are decreased due to nutrient pollution caused by runoff rich in nitrogen and phosphorus. [Read more…] about USM and SeaTrac partner to test uncrewed marine vehicle in offshore hypoxia mapping

American Bureau of Shipping issues ‘first ever’ autonomous vessel classification for Saildrone

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Saildrone, a specialist in ocean data collection using autonomous vehicles, has received what it says is “the first-ever classification for an autonomous, uncrewed surface vehicle” (USV) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).

The Saildrone Voyager, the mid-class vehicle in Saildrone’s rapidly expanding fleet, is the first-ever commercial USV to receive classification. ABS has been setting rigorous standards for safety and excellence as one of the world’s leading classification organizations and is at the forefront of marine and offshore innovation.

Classification is a major milestone for Saildrone, allowing the Voyager to operate in the ports and waters of countries that require vessels to be classed by organizations such as ABS, and demonstrates Saildrone’s commitment to safety, standardization, and reliability in its technology and operations. [Read more…] about American Bureau of Shipping issues ‘first ever’ autonomous vessel classification for Saildrone

Saildrone fleet surpasses 1 million nautical miles and 32,000 days at sea

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Saildrone says it has reached “another major milestone”. Its fleet of uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) has surpassed an incredible cumulative distance of 1,000,000 nautical miles during more than 32,000 days at sea, deployed on missions around the globe.

Equivalent to circumnavigating the Earth 48 times and almost 89 years at sea for a single vehicle, this achievement demonstrates the scale of Saildrone’s operations and the tireless efforts of its team to push the boundaries and capabilities of uncrewed systems.

The record was achieved exactly 10 years after the company’s first major milestone, when the very first Saildrone USV sailed from San Francisco to Hawaii in October 2013. The 2,200-nautical mile journey took just 34 days. [Read more…] about Saildrone fleet surpasses 1 million nautical miles and 32,000 days at sea

Xwing’s uncrewed aircraft system becomes FAA’s first certification project

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Autonomous aviation company Xwing has submitted a Project Specific Certification Plan (PSCP) to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), becoming the first Standard Category large unmanned aerial system (UAS) to receive official project designation.

This marks the beginning of the process for approval of uncrewed commercial cargo operations in the national airspace.

Unlike other aviation projects that focus on augmenting piloted operations with autonomous technology or have Special Category certification, Xwing’s Superpilot technology integrates into existing type certified aircraft to enable uncrewed operations that work within the existing air traffic control system. [Read more…] about Xwing’s uncrewed aircraft system becomes FAA’s first certification project

Fugro provides uncrewed surface vessel to TAQA

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Fugro has completed its first fully remote offshore survey inspection in the European North Sea for energy company TAQA using one of its Blue Essence uncrewed surface vessels (USV) with Blue Volta electric remotely operated vehicle (eROV).

The complex project, in Europe’s busiest part of the North Sea, involved the inspection of two platforms and over 40 kilometres of pipeline off the coast of the Netherlands.

The inspection investigated the mobility of the seabed, pipeline depth measurements, visual inspections and cathodic protection measurements within the 500-metre zone to ensure the integrity of TAQA’s assets. [Read more…] about Fugro provides uncrewed surface vessel to TAQA

Fugro expands its autonomous vessel fleet for geophysical surveys

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Fugro has signed a contract with Kooiman Engineering and Van Oossanen Naval Architects for the naval design of Blue Prism, Fugro’s next generation of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs).

Specifically engineered for operations in both coastal and offshore environments, the Blue Prism will combine an ultra-low carbon footprint with high quality data collection, weather resilience and endurance characteristics.

Available to clients in 2023, Fugro’s Blue Prism will acquire bathymetry and sub-bottom data of the highest accuracy using hull mounted sensors, whilst also having the ability to tow multiple geophysical sensors. [Read more…] about Fugro expands its autonomous vessel fleet for geophysical surveys

AUVSI celebrates 50 years in Orlando

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Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Association for Uncrewed Vehicles Systems International (AUVSI) brings its world class annual conference, XPONENTIAL, to Orlando, April 25-28.

The event invites industry changemakers and end users to experience new technology that is solving real world problems, from safety and defense, to energy and infrastructure, business, construction, health, and the environment.

The largest of its kind, the convention features keynote speakers, panel presentations, educational programs, specialized workshops, networking opportunities, and an extensive exhibitor hall teaming with newly developed technology to preview, as well as co-located events by partners like the FAA. [Read more…] about AUVSI celebrates 50 years in Orlando