BMT, a global leader in environmental sciences, maritime engineering, and asset management, proudly unveils The Deep Blue Project, a pioneering initiative advancing autonomous technologies for real-time, high-quality maritime data collection. As an event sponsor of the Offshore Wind Australia Conference 2024, BMT celebrates a significant milestone in collaboration with Ocius, showcasing how The Deep Blue Project is reshaping environmental monitoring and maritime management.
This milestone builds on the “satellites of the sea” initiative introduced earlier this year, highlighting the transformative potential of autonomous systems to support commercial, conservation, and defence sectors.
Phase 1 Launch: Technical Trial and Real-Time Data Streaming
As part of The Deep Blue Project, BMT and Ocius have initiated a trial of an autonomous vessel equipped with advanced environmental sensors, a multi-beam echo sounder, high-resolution cameras, and state-of-the-art data links. Operating in the Gippsland region, the vessel streams live maritime data on seabed mapping, water quality, and marine wildlife activity, providing stakeholders with a real-time view of the maritime environment.
This maritime datawill be showcased on BMT’s website, reflecting the project’s commitment to transparency and innovation in environmental sciences, maritime engineering, and asset management.
BMT’s Vision: Sustainable Maritime Data Solutions
Graeme Nayler, Regional Business Director for BMT in the Asia Pacific, said:“The Deep Blue Project” embodies our vision of making essential maritime data accessible, affordable, and informative. This milestone demonstrates our leadership in autonomous technologies while showcasing our commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions across environmental sciences, maritime engineering, and asset management. We’re thrilled to present this initiative at the Offshore Wind Australia Conference, reaffirming our dedication to a connected and sustainable marine future.”
Will Alexander, Campaign Lead for Maritime Autonomous Systems at BMT, added: “Our collaboration with Ocius demonstrates that together we can accelerate innovation and unlock the benefits of autonomy. To enable sustainable marine development and help manage the impacts of a changing climate, there is an urgent need to better understand and observe our seas and oceans. Maritime autonomous systems and other disruptive technologies hold the key to achieving this at the pace and scale required. This project aligns seamlessly with the vision of BMT’s Maritime Autonomous Systems (MAS) campaign to transform the maritime industry by leveraging technological developments to meet today’s challenges and secure a sustainable future.”
Robert Dane, CEO at Ocius, concluded: “Our partnership with BMT marks a transformative step in advancing autonomous solutions for maritime challenges on both local and global scales. The trial in Gippsland showcases the ‘Bluebottle’ USV, outfitted with advanced sensing and communications technology enabling persistent environmental data acquisition. Operating independently, it will capture and transmit critical data in real time, demonstrating the end-to-end efficiency gains unmanned systems offer. Together, Ocius and BMT are pushing the boundaries in environmental intelligence through ‘Autonomous Scalable Integrated Systems’, driving our shared vision of delivering actionable, real-time data that supports decision-makers in sustainable maritime management.”
Strategic Phases for Growth and Impact
The Deep Blue Project, a pioneering initiative by BMT and Ocius, is set to transform maritime data accessibility and impact through a phased approach to innovation, commercialisation, and expansion. Designed to ensure scalability and long-term success, the project is structured into three key strategic phases:
Stage 1 – Technical Trial
The initial stage focuses on validating autonomous data collection systems and integrating BMT’s advanced analytics and visualisation tools. This phase is pivotal in delivering actionable insights and showcasing the project’s technical capabilities to key stakeholders.
Stage 2 – Commercialisation
In this phase, The Deep Blue Project will develop specialised data solutions tailored to the environmental, regulatory, and operational needs of maritime stakeholders. These solutions aim to provide real-world applications that enhance efficiency, compliance, and decision-making across the maritime sector.
Stage 3 – Global Expansion
To achieve global scalability and expand technological capabilities, The Deep Blue Project is actively seeking capital. The focus is on carefully selecting partners and funding opportunities that align with and enhance the project’s vision. These partnerships will provide not just financial support but also strategic benefits, enabling the project to establish global market coverage and deliver transformative maritime data solutions.
“The Deep Blue Project represents a bold step forward in maritime innovation,” said Graeme Nayler. “With a clear and methodical approach, we’re not only addressing critical maritime challenges but also positioning ourselves as leaders in delivering accessible, affordable, and impactful maritime data.”
Real-World Impact and a Holistic Approach to Maritime Innovation
The trial phase of The Deep Blue Project, located in the Gippsland region, exemplifies the transformative potential of autonomous technologies in maritime environmental management. By capturing bathymetric and benthic data, video imagery of marine mammals and seabirds, and a suite of associated environmental insights, the trial supports applications such as habitat mapping, metocean modelling, water quality analysis, and regulatory compliance. These capabilities address the growing demand for comprehensive and actionable environmental data.
As part of the project, the BMT-Ocius team is also assessing regulatory frameworks for environmental monitoring, aiming to streamline processes and reduce the duration of monitoring requirements. This approach enhances operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness, providing significant benefits across the maritime industry.
The collaboration underpinning The Deep Blue Project showcases BMT’s integrated expertise in environmental sciences, maritime engineering, and asset management. By adopting a “develop once, use many” model, the project maximises the value of collected data, creating customer efficiencies by minimising redundant collection efforts. Establishing a centralised, high-quality data repository allows multiple stakeholders — governments, industries, and research institutions — to access and utilise shared datasets for diverse purposes, from habitat conservation to operational planning.
This innovative approach significantly lowers costs for all stakeholders while delivering enhanced environmental insights, operational efficiencies, and regulatory compliance solutions. The Deep Blue Project’s scalable nature ensures maritime data becomes a shared resource, fostering collaboration, innovation, and sustainable growth across an expansive addressable market that spans renewable energy, defence, conservation, and beyond.
Strategic Positioning and Market Leadership
By achieving this key milestone, BMT and Ocius strengthen their leadership in autonomous data collection. As an event sponsor of the Offshore Wind Australia Conference 2024, BMT will showcase this collaboration, underscoring its role in driving data innovation for offshore wind and renewable energy sectors. The partnership’s emphasis on strategic relationships, regulatory alignment, and evolving customer needs positions BMT and Ocius as ‘catalysts’ for decarbonisation, delivering scalable, transformative solutions in autonomous maritime technology.
This trial builds on the vision established in BMT’s “satellites of the sea” initiative“, to create a sustainable network of autonomous vessels for continuous environmental monitoring. The trial marks a significant step forward, highlighting the viability of these autonomous systems to reshape the future of maritime operations, a theme BMT and Ocius will explore further at this month’s Offshore Wind Australia Conference.
Sustainable Data Services for the Future
At the heart of The Deep Blue Project is an innovative Information-as-a-Service (IaaS) model. This approach provides customers with tailored data streams while creating a long-term repository for continuous data acquisition and analysis. These capabilities will support various applications, from environmental monitoring to offshore wind energy projects, fostering sustainable growth across maritime sectors.
