Fugro has expanded its 12-m Blue Essence USV fleet with the addition of Fugro Vaquita.

The latest Blue Essence has earned Category 0 approval from the UK Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA), the highest level of approval for autonomous vessels. It is now the largest USV to operate fully remotely, with unrestricted access, to support marine projects further offshore while enhancing safety and environmental performance. 

The USV will be remotely controlled from Fugro’s global network of remote operations centers (ROCs). This remote operation capability not only removes personnel from potentially high-risk offshore environments but also significantly reduces the carbon footprint of operations, with the USV’s emissions up to 95 percent lower than conventional support vessels. Operators can also monitor and control the vessels from anywhere in the world, enabling faster decision making and access to near-real-time data.

Learn more here.