Offshore energy plays a vital role in meeting global energy demands, contributing significantly to the production of renewable energy, oil, and gas. With the expansion of offshore energy projects worldwide, ensuring the efficiency, safety, and sustainability of operations becomes paramount. 

Unmanned vessels have emerged as integral tools in offshore energy operations, offering innovative solutions to challenges such as inspection, maintenance, and logistical support.  

In this article, we explore the potential uses and benefits of deploying unmanned vessels in offshore energy operations. 

 

The Role of Unmanned Vessels in Offshore Energy Operations 

 

Autonomous or remotely operated surface vessels, such as Sea Machines’ SELKIE, provide a cost-effective and efficient means of conducting tasks in offshore environments, enhancing operational capabilities and minimizing risks associated with human presence at sea. 

 

Applications of Unmanned Vessels in Offshore Energy  

 

Inspection and Maintenance 

 

Unmanned surface vessels (USVs) play a crucial role in conducting routine inspections of offshore structures, such as oil rigs, wind turbines, and underwater cables or pipelines.  

Equipped with advanced sensors and cameras, these vessels can navigate complex environments and access hard-to-reach areas, ensuring comprehensive coverage of infrastructure.  

USVs also facilitate collaboration with other unmanned technologies, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), for enhanced monitoring capabilities. UAVs can be deployed from autonomous vessels to inspect structures like wind turbine blades and assess structural integrity, eliminating the need for human intervention in hazardous offshore environments. Unmanned underwater vehicles, (UUVs) and tethered Remotely Operated Vehicles, (ROVs) are also being deployed for subsurface infrastructure inspection. 

 

Logistics and Supply Chain Management 

 

Unmanned vessels serve as essential logistical support for transporting personnel, equipment, and supplies between shore and offshore installations.  

With their ability to operate autonomously or under remote control, these vessels offer a reliable and efficient means of ferrying resources to and from offshore sites, reducing dependency on large, crewed vessels and minimizing operational downtime. 

Additionally, by optimizing supply chain operations and transportation processes, unmanned vessels lead to significant cost savings for offshore energy projects. Their versatility and adaptability ensure efficient logistics and supply chain management, making them indispensable assets. 

 

Data Collection and Mapping 

 

Unmanned vessels equipped with sensors and sonar systems collect data for mapping seabed topography, underwater terrain, and geological features. This data aids in site selection, resource exploration, and seabed characterization for offshore energy projects.  

The high-resolution data collected allows for accurate mapping of underwater structures and facilitates informed decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.  

 

Requirements for Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) for Offshore Operations

 

An ideal USV for offshore operations must endure rough seas, possess long-range capabilities, and feature reliable autonomy.  

 

For inspection and data collection tasks, the vessel should have ample space for or be designed with sensors and other equipment in mind. 

  

In logistics support, the USV should prioritise cargo space and extended range capabilities for efficient transportation of supplies to offshore installations.  

 

Overall, the USV must be robust, adaptable, and equipped for safe operation in challenging offshore environments. 

 

 

The Bottom Line: Increasing Safety and Decreasing Costs 

 

Unmanned surface vessels (USVs) offer significant advantages in safety, productivity and cost efficiency for offshore operations.  

By minimizing human presence in hazardous environments, USVs mitigate safety risks associated with offshore activities, reducing the potential for accidents and injuries.  

Additionally, USVs lower operational costs compared to crewed vessels, thanks to reduced manpower requirements and decreased fuel consumption due to more efficient route planning and the ability to use smaller size vessels for the same operation. 

Over the long term, these efficiency gains translate into substantial cost savings, making USVs a compelling choice for enhancing safety and optimizing expenditures in offshore operations. 

 

 

SELKIE: Built for the Real World 

 

Our latest autonomous vessel, SELKIE, is powered by our industry leading SM300 Autonomous Command and Control system which has been deployed on over 100 different commercial and military craft 

Outfitted with oversized hardware and an integrated Seakeeper gyro stabilizer, SELKIE is built to withstand and excel in offshore energy operations. The Seakeeper allows for roll reductions of up to 70-90%, extending its ability to operate in inclement weather and allows SELKIE to complete the task with a smaller vessel size than normally required, economizing fuel and other resources.  

Whether it’s SELKIE’s integrated storage with up to 2 Euro-pallet capacity or our built-in mounts and winches for sensors and equipment, we are confident that we have crafted the ultimate unmanned vessel for inspection, logistics, and data collection alike. Sea Machines is pleased to offer this world class solution, fully integrated and delivered to your operation with procurement and lease options available globally.  

Reach out to us today to learn how SELKIE can serve you at sales@sea-machines.com