Reach Subsea has received approval from Norwegian maritime authorities to operate its first uncrewed surface vessel (USV), the Reach Remote 1, independently for offshore operations. This marks a significant milestone as it is the first USV of its size capable of deploying work-class remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) without the need for a support ship. Since its operations commenced in April, the vessel had initially relied on a crewed support vessel for oversight during its unmanned missions.
Inge Grutle, the chief operating officer of Reach Subsea, emphasized the safety and situational awareness of the Reach Remote 1, stating that it has demonstrated a safety level comparable to or exceeding that of manned vessels. This capability has been validated by DNV and the Norwegian maritime authorities through the newly issued trading permit. On October 11, the Reach Remote 1 departed from a Norwegian port to continue its work for Shell in the Ormen Lange deepwater gas field, now operating autonomously.
The permit for solo operations includes support from an onshore remote operations center, showcasing a shift towards advanced autonomous technology in subsea operations. The company is also preparing for the deployment of a second USV, Reach Remote 2, in Australia and has plans for constructing two additional vessels. Chief executive Jostein Alendal highlighted that this achievement is pivotal to their strategy of transforming subsea operations through ocean robotics, reflecting strong collaboration with various teams and authorities.
