Fleet of remote-controlled workboats

Norwegian yard Verksted Grovfjord Mek. Verksted (GMV) has an order to build a series of up to 13 autonomous workboats, called the Armada fleet, for Ocean Infinity, a marine robotics company. GMV, Norway’s largest manufacturer of aluminum work boats, has already started the construction of Ocean Infinity’s first four of the 21m-long autonomous vessels.

The low-emission boats are built to be deployed from shorelines across the world for the acquisition of ocean data. Each vessel can be equipped with smaller remote operated vehicles (ROVs) as well as a variety of other sensors or equipment. They will be remotely controlled from one of three global control centres in Austin, Texas, in Southampton in England and a location in Asia still to be decided.

The vessels are designed to be transported worldwide by aircraft and have been specifically designed to include highly efficient propellers, engines, and batteries, to reduce carbon dioxide emissions during operations.

The yard is also near completion of the design work on a follow-up type of 36m autonomous vessels, with the same advanced vessel technology as the 21m vessel, but with increased payload capability. Vessels will be built according to DNV GL class and British flag. The first delivery is planned later this year, and the rest of the deliveries will take place between 2021 to 2023.