Dutch offshore surveyor Fugro and L3 ASV, a developer of autonomous vessel technology, have joined forces to launch unmanned ships for commercial survey.
Both companies said they plan to come out with a variety of fit-for-purpose unmanned surface vessels (USVs).
Delivery of the first USV, designed for medium- to large-scale hydrographic survey applications, is set for the second quarter of 2019.
“We believe that over time a significant portion of our marine business can be optimised through the use of autonomous and remote technology, and we are very excited that we have reached an agreement with L3 ASV,” said Wim Herijgers, Fugro's director innovation marine.
“This partnership aligns with our strategy to leverage technology to reduce offshore staff exposure and make our operations more efficient.”
Vince Dobbin, L3 ASV's sales and marketing director, said: “This partnership will generate a wave of change throughout the entire marine survey industry, offering new ways to collect more data, more efficiently and safely."
L3 ASV has offices in the US, UK and Brazil.
