Commercial survey firm Fugro and autonomous technology specialist L3 ASV have signed a joint development agreement for “next-generation” unmanned surface vessels (USVs).
Netherlands-based Fugro and L3 ASV, which is jointly headquartered in Louisiana and the UK, will develop a range of what they describe as “fit-for-purpose” USVs. Delivery of the first, designed for medium- to large-scale hydrographic survey applications, is scheduled for Q2 2019.
Fugro’s director of marine innovation Wim Herijgers said “We believe that over time a significant portion of our marine business can be optimised through the use of autonomous and remote technology, and we are very excited that we have reached an agreement with L3 ASV.”
“This partnership aligns with our strategy to leverage technology to reduce offshore staff exposure and make our operations more efficient.”
L3 ASV’s sales and marketing director Vince Dobbin said “We are delighted to join forces with Fugro, combining our unmanned vessel expertise with their unrivalled global survey capability.
“This partnership will generate a wave of change throughout the entire marine survey industry, offering new ways to collect more data, more efficiently and safely.”
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