SUMMARY
The project aims to develop a deep sea sensor system for subsea survey, data collection and light intervention by use of a semi-autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) as the sensor platform. The AUV will be brought out to the desired offshore location by an unmanned small surface vessel (USV). By this system any subsea survey and light intervention task can be initiated and performed from an onshore control centre without engaging large ships. This is a significant step change from existing methods for deep sea survey/ datacollection operations with a tremendous reduction in cost and energy consumption.
The reduction in fuel consumption alone is approximately 20% for comparable operation. By 50 operations pr year for one vessel this means reduction from 2 000 cbm to 350 cbm fuel consumption and 4,4 tons less CO2 emissions.
The system also reduces ship cost, eliminates all crew cost and safety issues by offshore operations.
The project incorporates development of an onshore control centre where the ergonomics related to human machine interface will be an important. It will be important to keep the right level of attention from operators depending of different situations during operation.
This new sustainable system will benefit offshore windmills, offshore tidal/wave energy, ocean research and other activities that will take place along European coast and offshore in the future.
The challenges connected to establishing such a research project is to get sufficient financing to reduce the risk for the industrial partners. Another challenge is to coordinate experimental research both from industrial partners and research institutes in such way that the results can provide a valuable input to the next step for commercialisation.