Reach Subsea introduced the REACH REMOTE concept in 2019, partnering with Kongsberg Maritime, who took on the role of the primary turnkey contractor. Equipped with advanced KONGSBERG technology, the vessel is currently undergoing final commissioning at Trosvik Maritime yard. It is scheduled to begin a technology qualification program this fall, collaborating with major global energy players, including Equinor.
Reach Subsea’s REACH REMOTE 1 USV is the first of a pair uncrewed 24-meter surface vessel and is poised to revolutionize offshore subsea operations. Scheduled for deployment in 2024 under the Norwegian Flag, these vessels align with sustainability initiatives.
A key feature of the REACH REMOTE USV design is its ability to operate without a crew, controlled remotely. This approach offers significant advantages in terms of operating costs, safety, and emissions, when compared to carrying out the same duties with a much larger, crewed vessel. Additionally, the USV’s integration with Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) is the first of its kind.
Speaking at the award ceremony, COO of Reach Subsea, Inge Grutle, said: “We are very proud to be awarded the Ship of the Year award for our first uncrewed vessel, the Reach Remote 1, which we are confident will be the first in a series of many to support our ambition to give our Clients sustainable access to the ocean space”.
“An immense amount of work has been put in by the teams involved in this project. Stated Reach Subsea’s Vice President of Reach Remote, Bjørg Mathisen Døving. To be part of such a groundbreaking project has been a joyride and I have had the time of my life. I am so proud of the unstoppable efforts from the diverse teams, and I truly believe this project is a lighthouse for the industry.”
“This pioneering project has involved a range of companies including Reach Subsea (Owner and initial design), KONGSBERG (Design and Turnkey contractor) Trosvik Maritime AS (Yard), Massterly (ROC), Kystdesign (ROV) DNV, and the Norwegian Maritime Authorities (NMA).
Lisa Edvardsen Haugan, President, Kongsberg Maritime, said. “We are extremely proud to have played such a pivotal role in this project and are absolutely delighted to have been recognized alongside our valued partners at REACH SUBSEA for the innovation and cutting-edge technology that makes the REACH REMOTE vessels such a game-changer for our industry.”
Reach Subsea CEO Jostein Alendal shared his thoughts on the award, stating: “To revolutionize an industry, you need to innovate. To innovate, you need people within the organization and partners alongside you who can think big, think differently, and overcome the challenges that arise along the way. The Reach Remote project is a powerful testament to this, and I am immensely proud to see that what were once bold ideas are now coming to life. We are committed to seeing this through to full operation. Winning the Ship of the Year award is a tremendous boost and a great source of motivation for our teams. We are looking forward to continuing the great cooperation established with KONGSBERG and Massterly in the future scale-up of Reach Remote vessels.”
The UT 5208 USV vessels are designed around a moonpool from which the ROV is launched. KONGSBERG is providing the handling equipment for the ROV, as well as hull-mounted sensors for survey work. The ROV will feature a robust robotic arm to enable simple underwater tasks, such as adjusting valves or moving debris. The vessels will be controlled from a remote operating center (ROC), where one captain will be able to control several vessels at the same time.
Massterly, which is a joint venture between Kongsberg Maritime and Wilhelmsen, will monitor and control the vessels from its Remote Operations Centre (ROC) in Horten, Norway.
REACH SUBSEA has responsibility for all the client interface and its teams will operate ROVs from their Operations Centre. Initially this will be based in Haugesund but this capability can be deployed globally through a network mobile, container-based Operations Centers, as the REACH REMOTE fleet expands.
For the initial deployment, the vessels will be followed by a support vessel in the early stages of operation before transitioning to remote and autonomous control.
