Reach Subsea has achieved a significant industry milestone with the granting of a trading permit to operate its Reach Remote 1 Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) entirely through remote control—without the need for a traditional support vessel.
The permit was issued by the Norwegian Maritime Authorities, with technical validation and support from DNV. Reach Remote 1 has already been in full commercial operation, and this permit initiates the final phase towards full certification.
“The Reach Remote programme is central to our strategy to transform subsea operations through ocean robotics. This milestone reflects the extraordinary collaboration across our teams and with the Norwegian Maritime Authorities.” – Jostein Alendal, CEO of Reach Subsea.
This is the first approval of its kind for an USV of this size with integrated Work Class ROV capability, representing a significant milestone for the maritime and offshore industry.
“Since start of operations in April a support vessel has enabled human eyes to observe while demonstrating remotely controlled unmanned operations. Our people have proved that Reach Remote has equivalent or better maritime safety level and situational awareness compared to manned vessels, which is validated by DNV and NMA through this trading permit.” – Inge Grutle, COO of Reach Subsea.
On Saturday, 11 October, Reach Remote 1 sailed off to continue her work for Shell on the Ormen Lange field, now entirely on her own, marking a historic moment for Reach Subsea and the future of remote-controlled subsea services.
Reach Remote 1 is the first in a new class of USVs developed to perform offshore tasks with significantly lower emissions and reduced need for offshore personnel. As Reach Remote 2 prepares for deployment in Australia and with Reach Remote 3 and 4 under construction, Reach Subsea continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible at sea and beneath the surface.
