UK approval for Fugro’s USV with eROV

The MCA granted the 12 metre Blue Essence USV category 2 approval, meaning the vessel can be operated within 60 nautical miles of a ‘safe haven’. The next stage in the UK regulatory process will be to obtain Category 0 MCA approval which will allow the vessel unrestricted service subject to the agreement of relevant port authorities.

Nick Simmons, director USV and remote working Europe and Africa at Fugro said the approval opened exciting opportunities for UK operations.

“Fugro’s Blue Essence fleet has already been successfully operating in Europe and Australia and recently completed a fully remote inspection off the coast of the Netherlands, in Europe’s busiest part of the North Sea, demonstrating the benefits of this innovative way of working,” he said.

The uncrewed vessel, developed in partnership with SEA-KIT International, is equipped with Fugro’s Blue Volta eROV and an array of geophysical equipment to undertake subsea inspection and site characterisation surveys.

The USV reportedly consumes significantly less fuel than large ROV support vessels resulting in a 95% reduction in carbon emissions.