This is “Reach Remote 1”
Reach Remote has its origins in the research project ROV Revolution in 2019. Just five years later, both she and her sister ship are on the water. And soon they will be in operation.
Scheduled for deployment in 2024 under the Norwegian flag, the vessel is poised to revolutionise offshore subsea operations, aligning with sustainability initiatives. Reach Remote offers secure, eco-friendly, and cost-effective solutions for global subsea inspection, survey, and intervention services. This ground-breaking project integrates Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs) with Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), paving the way for advancements in remote maritime technologies and marking a significant milestone in global maritime operations.
The Reach Remote USV will be uncrewed from day 1 and equipped to operate from a Remote-Operations Control Centre (ROC).
The USV will be equipped with state-of-the-art systems to enable remote operations, covering requirements from all stakeholders such as regulators, clients, and class. Multiple communication systems are incorporated in the design, such as VSAT, 5G, Iridium, Ceragon Pointlink and Starlink.
Key features include:
• Optimised for low energy consumption
• Designed with DP2 principles
• Electric Work Class ROV onboard
• Hull-mounted survey sensors
• Cyber security management plan
• Endurance of 30 days
• No personnel required offshore
“We are in an industry that is exposed to fierce competition. And in order to survive in this business, you must always have something that you are working on, that will bring you forward. So, working with new technology is something that Reach Subsea was founded for,” says Bjørg Mathisen Døving, VP at Reach Remote.
“As an engineer, it's fun to see that what you work on in those research projects really materialises. So, it's incredibly fun that from something that starts as an exciting idea and a research collaboration across different actors, both in industry, but also with academia, we are now actually delivering,” states Senior Project Manager at Kongsberg, Marthe Sand Kristoffersen.
The vessel have the capacity to perform bathymetric survey and sub-bottom surveys to a water depth of 500m using the hull-mounted equipment. Utilising EM2040 in dual configurations enables superior swath and data resolution ratio.
ZEEROV work-class payload capacity further enables the USV as a data collection platform. The ZEEROV will have an acoustically aided inertial navigation system to improve the HiPAP 502 positioning. The ZEEROV will be able to provide high resolution geophysical survey capability including gradiometry, visual and acoustic pipeline surveys, general visual and photogrammetry inspection surveys.
The survey operations will be monitored from the survey operational centre and near real-time data acquisition results will be provided continuously for quality control and made available for operators in a visualised solution.
This system not only enhances the ROV’s power but also improves its manoeuvrability, all within a size comparable to the successful Supporter ROV. Designed with a paramount focus on reliability and flexibility, ZEEROV ensures prolonged submersion and seamless remote control from shore, making it a key component for long-term operational success.
Refined through years of operational experience and hands-on development by Kystdesign, ZEEROV boasts refined technology. Its advanced control system is equipped with various auto functions, including AutoPOS and AutoTRACK capabilities, enabling efficient over-the-horizon control from a Remote Operation Centre onshore.
Principal dimensions:
- Length: 23.90 m
- Breadth: 8.00 m
- Draught: 5.5 m max draft
- Deadweight: 105 MT (with open moonpool)
- Gross Tonnage: 230
- LSW: 265 MT
Equipment:
- Power, propulsion and thrusters: Azimuth thrusters 2 x 350kW-ZF ATL 4014 WM-FP
- Main engines: 2 x Volvo Penta D13-600 MH
- Engine type: Variable speed gen sets
- Engine power: 2 x 441 kW
- Generators: 2 x 385 kW
- Battery capacity: 2 x 369 kWh
- Reference system: SpotTrack, Dual Seapath380, DPSi4
- Underwater positioning: HPR HiPAP 502
- Hull-mounted sensors: Multi-Beam Echo Sounder (DH EM2040),
- Sub-bottom profiler: (TOPAS PS 120)
- Communication: VSAT, Ceragon Pointlink, Dual
- Class: DNV +1A (hull only), Battery (Power), Recyclable, ER (SCR)
- Lifting appliances: LARS 8.6 MT SWL through LARS winch
ROV System:
- Manufacturer: Kystdesign
- Model: ZEEROV
- Dimensions: 2500 x 1700 x 1650 mm (LWH)
- Power: 115 kW electric propulsion with optional HPU for manipulators
- Umbilical: 1065 m
- TMS: Kystdesign
- Tether: 330 m
- L&R Limitation: 3.0 m Hs
- Depth rating: 2000 m
- Service interval: 30 days