Norway’s Reach Subsea has taken delivery of its first uncrewed surface vessel (USV), Reach Remote 1, marking the completion of technical installations, testing, and documentation.
According to Reach Subsea, the company completed the final handover today, on January 16, 2025, together with Kongsberg Maritime and Trosvik AS.
The Reach Remote 1, a 24-meter USV, is equipped with hull-mounted survey sensors and a work-class electric remotely operated vehicle (ROV). It represents a new approach to subsea operations, offering efficiency, safety, and sustainability, including a targeted 90% reduction in emissions compared to traditional crewed vessels, the company noted.
In March of 2024, Reach Subsea sea-launched the first unit of its Reach Remote fleet of USVs, which would, as the company says, “revolutionize offshore subsea operations, aligning with sustainability initiatives” .
“Reach Remote is an extraordinary journey, bringing together the unique expertise of Kongsberg Maritime, Reach Subsea, and Massterly shaping the future of uncrewed offshore operations. We are thrilled to see the Reach Remote 1 set sail and prepared for its first mission,” said Bjørg Mathisen Døving , VP of Reach Remote at Reach Subsea.
The vessel will now be prepared for its inaugural pilot project involving Equinor, TotalEnergies, and other “major energy companies”.
The Reach Remote 1 will be deployed for a variety of tasks during the pilot project, including surveys, ROV interventions, inspection, maintenance, repair (IMR), and monitoring. The offshore operations will span production fields in the North Sea and the Norwegian Sea, such as Troll, Gullfaks, Snorre, and Åsgard, Reach Subsea said.
Reach Subsea unveiled that it also plans to begin sea trials for its second uncrewed vessel, the Reach Remote 2, with delivery anticipated shortly after.
“A new milestone has been reached, and we are pleased to officially begin demonstrations as part of the pilot project. We are experiencing strong market interest in these USVs and anticipate capitalizing on this investment in 2025,” said Jostein Alendal , CEO of Reach Subsea.