Lighthouse for the industry within Reach

One partnership that has put this into practice and launched its first of two sister USVs, with a potential full fleet, has explained to Maritime Journal how this has been possible.

The initiative promises to revolutionise the industry – and such is confidence in it that a specific end-client has not even been identified.

Reach Remote 1 is the first USV launched by Kongsberg Maritime and Reach Subsea, complete with its own Remotely Operated Vehicle (ZEEROV, by Kystdesign).

“We started with a concept,” said Erik Leenders, Ship Designer at Kongsberg Maritime, who was also the senior designer behind the David Attenborough research ship.

“We were thinking, if ROVs are already remote-controlled, what if we moved the operators to shore? And what if we went even further and removed the crew from the vessel entirely?”

And with help from the Norwegian Research Council, the Sintef and NTNU (Norwegian Technical and Physics University and other commercial partners to refine the vision, this is what they have done.

“It’s a lighthouse for the industry,” said Bjørg Mathisen Døving, Vice President of Reach Remote, who is leading the initiative. “We knew that Kongsberg had the expertise to design the vessels, and we were willing to invest in the technology. It was a perfect match.

“We were looking for a more competitive way of working. We had been controlling ROVs remotely for decades, but the real potential was in doing the same for vessels.

“Reach Subsea with Equinor, TOTAL Energies and others have partnered on a pilot project this spring, to demonstrate the full capabilities of Reach Remote offshore Norway.”

The collaboration led to the development of two uncrewed vessels designed specifically for subsea operations – and the first, Reach Remote 1, which is due to start subsea surveys off the Norwegian coast of Haugesund soon.

The second Reach Remote 2 is about to start sea trials, and while there is no specific client for either in mind, the applications for subsea works are numerous – anything under the water would be suitable, from mining to offshore wind to carbon capture – there is no limit.

Vessel detail

The USVs, which can sail non-stop for 30 days, are 23.9 metres in length with a beam of eight metres. They are powered by two Volvo Penta D13 MH engines with Kongsberg supplying all the onboard technology – the batteries, autonomy and remote control systems, electrics, positioning systems and the ROV launch and recovery system (LARS).

This is unique in itself – taking on the role of prime contractor so that the vessel was delivered to Reach Remote complete, said Marthe Kristine Sand, Director Naval & Workboat portfolio, Integrated projects, with Kongsberg Maritime.

“Instead of us being a sub-supplier to a yard with an end customer, which it often is, in the Reach Remote project Kongsberg is responsible for the complete delivery including the yard scope,” she said. “And of course all the Kongsberg equipment on board – the vessel control system, energy management systems, the LARS, sensors, communications links and the ROC.”

By coordinating the shipyard (Trosvik Maritime), organising the supply chain, integrating systems and commissioning, the vessel delivery was truly a turnkey one.

The UT 5208 USVs are built around a moonpool for launching the ROV, and both have hull-mounted sensors as well as the other survey payload.

And while acknowledging that diesel generators are still necessary, there’s an eye on future propulsion methods,.

“We wanted to build vessels under 24 metres to comply with UK MCA regulations, which limited the space available for battery packs,” said Døving. “However, we’re actively exploring alternative fuels for future designs.”

Remote control

Reach Remote 1 has some autonomy, but must be remotely controlled – and this has been set up in a joint venture between Kongsberg Maritime and Wilhelmsen.

‘Massterly’ operates a land-based Remote Operating Centre (ROC) in Horten, Norway, from where shore-based crew will be able to control several vessels at once.

“We have our own ROV pilots who will be operating the ROV and performing the subsea operations, do the project planning and be the sharp end towards the clients, but Massterly will do the vessel management and the maintenance and the remote control of the vessel,” said Døving.

It essentially means two ROCs: one to control the USV (in Horten), the other to look after the ROV (in Haugesund).

“But we’re also building portable ones so we can deploy Reach Remote worldwide, wherever the clients have most interest,” she said. “The only aspect we are taking into consideration is that it could be a bit of a conflict to sit in one country and operate a vessel in another country, which puts us in a position to do containerised systems that we can move around so we make sure that the captain is in the same country in which the vessel is operating.”

One day, this may not even be needed.

“Right now, the vessel is fully uncrewed, but it still requires remote operators,” said Leenders. “In the future, we may see vessels capable of making their own decisions.”

Regulations

“Norway wants to be a lighthouse in terms of adopting new technology, so we have managed to get the sailing permissions out of the Norwegian maritime authorities that serves as a good example for the other European countries,” said Bjørg Mathisen Døving.

“And there’s been a Memorandum of Understanding between Belgium, Netherlands, UK, Denmark and Norway to use each other’s approval processes in a joint effort.

“So while we are in the waiting phase for the IMO to come up with new regulations internationally, we are pushing borders together here in Europe to make the technology possible for the clients to use temporarily, until the IMO Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) regulations arrive.”

At the moment these are targeting the heavy end of the market, ie the cargo vessels of the world, but when the smaller vessels are targeted, Døving hopes Reach Remote can be a demonstration project for the size.

“What started as a disruptive idea and a cross-industry research project seven years ago is now a reality,” said Johnny Aarseth, Executive Vice President Integration & Energy at Kongsberg Maritime.

“Nothing has been done on this scale before. Up to now we’ve seen smaller ‘drone type’ craft carrying out limited duties, but this is something completely new, and I believe it will set the future direction for the way certain critical offshore jobs are done.”