Norwegian unmanned systems operator Nordic USV and UK-based maritime robotics company HydroSurv have entered into a 60-month lease agreement for an unmanned surface vehicle (USV).
The craft, named USV Bris, is fitted with a hybrid powertrain combining a Mastervolt 12kW battery module with a Fischer Panda 4kW generator to achieve a coastal endurance of 72 hours. The USV is also fitted with two 5kW electric outboard engines supplied by Rim Drive Technologies.
Nordic USV will deploy the USV primarily for conductivity, temperature and depth (CTD) profiling operations in Norway's fjords. Featuring an upgraded OSIL profiling winch capable of reaching depths up to 1,500 metres, the USV will boast profiling capabilities that HydroSurv expects to be the deepest achieved by a USV globally to date.
USV Bris also has an advanced navigation suite integrating Furuno hardware with TimeZero marine navigation software, enabling enhanced situational awareness for coastal deployment in challenging Nordic conditions.