Norway is significantly enhancing its coastal surveillance and environmental monitoring capabilities with the addition of two new hybrid-electric uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) from the UK company HydroSurv. These advanced vessels, named USV Kuling and USV Storm, will join the existing USV Bris, expanding the nation's capacity for autonomous survey operations along its extensive coastline.
The REAV-47 series vessels represent a significant advancement in remote operational capabilities. The initial vessel, USV Bris, has already proven its effectiveness by completing a 320-kilometer hydrographic mapping mission in Norway. This mission was managed entirely remotely from a control center located hundreds of kilometers away, highlighting the vessels' autonomy and their potential for high-endurance, low-emission environmental monitoring.
Following the successful deployment of USV Bris, which mapped hydrographic conditions between Ranfjorden and Velfjorden in 41 hours, trials are now underway for USV Kuling. USV Storm is also nearing completion, further strengthening Nordic USV's ability to meet the increasing demand for sustainable and scalable survey operations.
The REAV-47 platform is engineered for robust performance, featuring a 72-hour hybrid-electric endurance and equipped with sophisticated payload systems for deepwater profiling and detailed bathymetric mapping. This expansion of Norway's autonomous survey fleet aligns with a global trend towards utilizing uncrewed technology for marine research and monitoring, offering a more efficient, environmentally friendly, and safer alternative to traditional crewed operations.
The integration of hybrid-electric propulsion systems is a key development in reducing the maritime industry's carbon footprint and promoting sustainable ocean science. The Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) is also employing advanced technologies, including drones and GNSS equipment, to map and understand Norway's natural environment, underscoring a national focus on technologically driven environmental insights.
The strategic addition of USV Kuling and USV Storm signifies a forward-thinking approach to safeguarding and understanding Norway's vital coastal ecosystems, enabling deeper insights and more responsible stewardship of the marine domain through innovation.