Greensea IQ Launches Autonomous Tether Management System for Inspection-Class ROVs

29 October 2026
Edited By: Haley McQueen

Greensea IQ has released its Autonomous Tether Management System (TMS) for inspection-class ROVs. Integrated with Greensea IQ's ROV autonomy software, the portable unit maintains proper tether tension without slack throughout a mission and handles tether launch and recovery autonomously. This reduces field supervision requirements, allowing a single operator, either remote or local, to effectively operate a tethered system.

Greensea IQ released its Autonomous Tether Management System (TMS) for inspection-class ROVs. (Image credit: Greensea IQ)

The TMS is the product of four years of development and testing. A prototype was demonstrated to and evaluated by the US Navy before the production release. The system is now deployed in support of Greensea IQ’s EverClean autonomous hull cleaning and inspection system.

“ROVs with autonomy software are ready to be deployed in unmanned operations, but managing the tether remains a major operational hurdle. This autonomous tether management system solves that problem,” said Ben Kinnaman, CEO of Greensea IQ. “We can now deploy ROVs from unmanned assets and in unmanned configurations with complete reliability and assurance that managing the tether will not be a limiting factor. EverClean is the immediate beneficiary of this product, and it has already contributed to safer and more efficient operations.”

In line with Greensea IQ’s open-architecture technology approach, the TMS can be paired with the company’s Safe C2 system for over-the-horizon operations, allowing crews to oversee missions remotely.

Greensea IQ will next deploy the TMS in support of unmanned mine countermeasures (MCM) operations. The system is designed with flexible, portable configurations for integration into lightweight unmanned surface vessels (USVs), closing the gap for successful joint unmanned operations.