Marine robotics firm Ocean Infinity has signed up Norwegian shipbuilder Vard to build six multi-purpose offshore vessels.
The 85-metre optionally crewed robotic vessels will be used for a multitude of tasks, such as pipeline inspections, internet cable burying, floating wind farm checks and light intervention work.
They will all have the capability to be controlled in Ocean Infinity’s office at Woolston, Southampton.
“This will play a huge role in enabling the global maritime community to reduce its carbon emissions from operations at sea,” said Richard Daltry, technical director – Surface Technology – with Ocean Infinity.
“These new 85m vessels will be optimised for inspection, maintenance and repair and light construction work to offer remote, ultra-low carbon services to the offshore energy market.”
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Ocean Infinity says the contract is the next phase of joint development between the two firms, where Vard’s vessel systems management and automation techniques are coupled with Ocean Infinity’s systems integration capability and remote operations infrastructure.
Once the new Vard 9 80 vessels and another eight are completed, Ocean Infinity’s remote vessel fleet will total 23 – the largest in the world, the company says.
At the moment, four 78-metre vessels are being built by Vard, with another four on order.
The new series of six is expected to be delivered in 2025.
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