Unmanned Surface Vehicle Delivered to Belgian Research Facility

The Flanders Marine Institute in Belgium has recently received a new unmanned surface vehicle (USV) from Maritime Robotics in Norway. Named Gobelijn, this multi-purpose platform is designed for long-endurance missions and is equipped with state-of-the-art scientific sensors and a launch and recovery system (LARS) for deploying ocean gliders.

Primarily operating in the North Sea to support the research vessel Simon Stevin, Gobelijn will be controlled from an onshore remote-control center. With the ability to conduct scientific measurements for extended periods, the USV will allow researchers to observe marine phenomena over longer timescales, such as multiple tidal cycles, which is often not feasible on traditional research vessels due to time and cost constraints.

Maritime Robotics highlighted that Gobelijn’s advanced capabilities will enable researchers to gather valuable data through extended missions, enhancing their understanding of marine environments. This development signifies a significant advancement in marine research technology and opens up new possibilities for conducting in-depth studies at sea.

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