Hydrographic survey specialist EGS Australia has formally named its newest optionally crewed vessel.
The unmanned surface vehicle (USV) Fremantle 02 will now deploy to the Kimberley on its maiden mission.
The craft will undertake hydrographic survey work under the Royal Australian Navy’s hydroscheme industry partnership program.
EGS Australia said Fremantle 02 builds on the success of Fremantle 01, which demonstrated a 94 per cent reduction in diesel use and operating costs up to 75 per cent lower than traditional crewed survey operations.
The compact design of the vessels also allows them to be transported by road.
Fremantle 02 will travel from Fremantle to the Kimberley in around two days, compared with approximately seven days by sea for a traditional survey vessel, saving an estimated 2,000 litres of fuel even before operations begin, according to the owner.
The USVs combine a compact vessel design with Greenroom Robotics’ autonomous navigation and control technology, enabling complex hydrographic survey operations to be conducted more efficiently than with conventional crewed survey vessels.
EGS Australia said operating Fremantle 01 and Fremantle 02 together will create a force-multiplier effect, enabling missions to be completed in around half the time, without requiring more crew at sea.
