Spanish yard floats out USV ordered by DeepOcean-led joint venture

Spanish shipbuilder Gondan has floated out a new unmanned surface vehicle (USV) ordered by USV AS, a joint venture formed by Norwegian companies DeepOcean, Solstad Offshore, and Østensjø Rederi.

USV Challenger was designed by Norwegian naval architecture firm Salt Ship Design for operation in Norwegian waters, where it will be used for ocean exploration and underwater inspections of offshore structures.

The USV measures 24 by 7.5 metres and can be remotely controlled from a shore operations centre. It will be equipped with an onboard sensor system that will allow efficient underwater inspection work to be carried out through the launch and recovery of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) capable of operating at depths of 1,500 metres.

A hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system that includes batteries will enable the USV to stay out at sea for up to 30 days.

USV Challenger is scheduled to enter operational service later this year, when it will begin serving an eight-year charter with Aker BP.