Norwegian offshore operator Reach Subsea has ordered the first two in a series of “game-changing” unmanned survey ships.
Domestic group Kongsberg Maritime will build the vessels as part of the Reach Remote project.
The unmanned offshore surface vessels (USVs) will serve as mobile power banks, data centres and communication modules for underwater remote-operated vessels (ROVs), Reach said.
Both the USVs and ROVs will be operated from an onshore control centre.
Reach aims to take delivery of the initial pair next summer.
“We are happy and proud to achieve this important milestone for the Reach Remote project, which will be a game-changer for the industry and for us,” said Reach chief executive Jostein Alendal.
He added that Reach Remote will enable a reduction in costs for clients of between 20% and 30%.
Emissions will be cut by between 90% and 100%, the CEO said.
The Reach Remote project has been developed with Kongsberg Maritime and Wilhelmsen-backed autonomous shipping operation Massterly.
Wilhelmsen took a 21% stake in Reach in February for $17m to help fund the work.
Bank financing in place
The total investment for the first two units, which includes the Kongsberg contract as well as up-front development and infrastructure investments to the benefit of future units, is in the range of NOK 380m ($43.5m) to NOK 400m.
The investment will be financed through loans from SR-Bank and Eksfin and proceeds from the Wilhelmsen investment.
Reach’s chief financial officer Birgitte Johanssen said in March that the company is not disclosing the number of vessels it ultimately wants to build.
“We are keeping the question open,” she added.
