Visión general
In early March 2026, our teams conducted an offshore demonstration to validate simultaneous operations using our Buque Ocean Intervention II and its DriX uncrewed surface vessel (USV) y HUGIN Superior autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV).
The objective was to prove that an autonomous underwater vehicle could be safely commanded, positioned, and monitored through an uncrewed surface vessel while the primary vessel remained available for other tasks as well as for contingency in case of any required emergency support.
The trial focused on operational safety, data quality, and endurance, demonstrating that this operating model could meet the same technical and safety expectations as conventional vessel‑centric approaches while offering greater environmental, schedule, and operational flexibility benefits.
Importantly, the USV-supported approach maintained positioning accuracy and delivered survey data quality comparable to conventional vessel-supported methods, demonstrating that SIMOPS and increased vessel flexibility can be achieved without sacrificing the data outputs clients rely on.
The Industry Challenge
In conventional survey workflows, AUVs rely on a crewed vessel within close proximity for acoustic positioning, command and control, and data relay.
While effective, this approach ties up high‑capability vessels for extended periods and prevents them from performing other tasks such as geophysical and seismic survey, geotechnical and environmental sampling, or vehículo teledirigido (ROV) operations. Clients are increasingly looking for ways to shorten offshore schedules and reduce idle vessel time without compromising safety or data quality.
Nuestra solución
After launching the AUV from the Ocean Intervention II, the USV assumed responsibility for:
- Relaying command and control instructions
- Providing positioning updates via ultra‑short baseline positioning
- Maintaining continuous communications and situational awareness
The survey teams monitored operations concurrently from onboard the vessel and from an Oceaneering Onshore Remote Operations Center (OROC) in Morgan City, Louisiana. The trial included two AUV dives totaling approximately 17 hours of sustained, USV-supported operations.
Value Delivered
The demonstration validated a more flexible operating model for offshore survey and inspection programs.
By decoupling AUV command and control from the primary vessel, clients can run survey activities in parallel with other vessel‑based operations rather than sequentially. This enables shorter overall project durations while maintaining established safety and data quality standards.
This model removes the typical tradeoff between operational efficiency and survey integrity. Customers gain the benefits of parallel execution while retaining the data quality they expect from conventional AUV operations.
The trial confirmed that uncrewed surface vessel enabled autonomous underwater vehicle operations are a viable, field‑proven option for complex offshore projects where vessel time, scheduling, and operational efficiency are critical.
Key Takeaways
- Enabled true simultaneous operations without introducing additional safety risk
- Maintained positioning accuracy and data quality comparable to conventional methods
- Improved operational flexibility and environmental responsibility by freeing the primary vessel for other tasks
Preguntas frecuentes
Looking to optimize offshore schedules while maintaining safety and data integrity?
Contact us to learn how we can support your next survey or inspection program.
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