MARITIME ROBOTICS
THE EXPERTS ENABLING OCEAN SPACE AUTONOMY Powered by Inside Marine
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MARITIME ROBOTICS
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I PROFILE
Initially set up in 2005, Maritime Robotics has revolutionised the marine industry with first-class uncrewed surface vehicles that are safer, more efficient and promote sustainability when compared to traditional boats. Founder & Managing Director Vegard Evjen Hovstein attended an exclusive interview with Inside Marine’s Imogen Ward to discuss the latest in ocean space autonomy.
AT
the heart of Maritime Robotics
development of marine autonomy. The
is a desire to keep seafarers
company has achieved this by commit-
safe. Every innovative solution
ting to a strong vision of enabling ocean
manufactured by the company is created with that priority in mind.
space autonomy. “Enabling is the element that we are most
“Safety is number one,” said Founder &
proud of,” Mr Hovstein explained. “We have
Managing Director Vegard Evjen Hovstein:
a global reputation as enablers because
“Our uncrewed surface vehicles have two
no matter what, we make it work. We have
main purposes. Firstly, they are able to
a clear-cut understanding of the environ-
improve the safety for personnel by
ment within which our products are
removing them from dangerous situations.
working; this has allowed us to develop
And secondly, they can aid crewed
technology which can operate above, on
operations with autonomous support,
and beneath the water’s surface. This is
to make room for safer decision making.”
our ocean space. Finally, we remain
Since its inception 18 years ago, Maritime Robotics has been leading the
amongst the top performing companies within maritime autonomy.”
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MARITIME ROBOTICS
I PROFILE
The neXt generation of Otter
will provide it with greater flexibility for
Amongst Maritime Robotics’ hugely
tool carrying.
successful portfolio of USVs is the best-
“The Otter X is our first product designed
selling Otter, renowned for its expertise at
to be a robot helping robots,” said
data acquisition within sheltered waters.
Mr Hovstein. “It is a surface vessel that is
Currently the smallest product in Maritime
capable of carrying an underwater robot
Robotics’ offering, this two-metre vessel
to any given location for the aid of other
is about to undergo a revamp.
vessels completing underwater tasks. The
Having equipped the original Otter
Otter X has a sailing endurance far
with the software needed to complete
greater than an underwater robotics
small-time marine surveys, the company
system, so it is a real gamechanger.”
is now developing the Otter X. Two metres
Currently in its final stages of production,
longer than its predecessor, the Otter
Maritime Robotics anticipates the release
X’s size and multi-purpose capabilities
of Otter X later this year.
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With such an exciting announcement,
standardised core technology,
Maritime Robotics has a sure confidence
whilst also maintaining our custom
in the success of the X edition, having
engineering capabilities.”
previously released the Mariner X: a multi-purpose USV capable of both
A cleaner, greener ocean space
offshore and coastal applications. Built from
A secondary competitive advantage
polyethylene, the vessel is extremely stable
comes in the form of the company’s
and low maintenance. An added bonus
integrated technology. Using SeaSight
of this USV is its extreme customisability:
(a situational awareness and collision
the spacious back-deck is ideal for cargo
avoidance system), Maritime Robotics’
transportation, satellite communications
vehicles can successfully navigate the
and even towing.
open waters, avoiding any potential
Customisation is a huge element of the
hazards that would interrupt operations.
Maritime Robotics’ customer-focused
The system relies on a collection of
approach. Every vehicle within the
low-light, high-definition cameras that
company’s production portfolio can
create an enhanced singular image for
be customised on request.
operators. With real-time video streaming
“Whatever our customers ask for,
and 180-degree panoramas, the SeaSight
they get,” said Mr Hovstein “Customisation
system provides visuals that are reflec-
has definitely been one of our biggest
tive of in-person views.
strengths and a huge competitive
Thanks to its advanced R&D, Maritime
advantage within the market. Looking
Robotics is not limited to the waters.
to the future, we plan to develop more
With the company’s OceanEye Balloon,
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MARITIME ROBOTICS
I PROFILE
customers have access to 24/7 aerial
“Recently, we completed a project for
surveillance. As a moored system, the
a customer within the marine mapping
balloon can operate from fixed locations
segment – replacing a large, crewed vessel
or moving vessels, via its deployable
with our Mariner X. That particular USV still
base unit. Due to its fixed nature, the
uses a conventional combustion engine,
system is also more reliable than
but because of its significant size and
traditional aviation alternatives.
weight reduction; as a result, that customer
Maritime Robotics has also dipped its toe
had an emissions reduction of 95 per cent.”
into the world of drones, having developed the Uncrewed Aircraft System, Falk. With
Offshore operating for Ørsted
beyond-line-of-sight-operations, Iridium
Always ready to push the boundaries
satellite communications and the capacity
of ocean autonomy, Maritime Robotics
to run in sub-zero conditions, this drone is
recently collaborated on a very exciting
perfect for more isolated expeditions.
project with Ørsted (a world-leading
According to Mr Hovstein, when it comes
developer of offshore wind farms). The
to sustainability, the Maritime Robotics’
Ørsted project saw Maritime Robotics
systems have a lot of potential: “Autonomy
enter into an entirely new sector, creating
is certainly an enabler for improved
a world-first within offshore metocean
sustainability. They’re smaller vessels which
measurement. Using Maritime Robotics’
are more cost- and energy-efficient, and
USV control system, the prototype USV is
that can really help to improve the carbon
designed to operate long-term in extreme
footprint of our customers.
offshore conditions, collecting a variety
138 Inside marine
of data that will help in the initial develop-
35%, the company has been incredibly
ment of new wind farms.
successful thus far. As it travels along this
“We have been working on the Ørsted
path of progression, the company intends
product for around three years,” Mr
to continue innovating and revolutionising
Hovstein said. “The company utilised
the world of maritime autonomy.
our autonomous navigation system
“I see a lot of potential in our autonomous
within its USV design, and we see a lot of
navigation systems. If we continue to
promise in this product. It is definitely a con-
focus on those, then I am confident that
cept that has huge scalability and potential:
we will remain an industry leader,”
it really was a pleasure to work on a project
Mr Hovstein concluded. “We intend to do
with such capacity for change.”
that on an international level, expanding
In an industry that is growing 20%
our presence within the global market.
annually, Maritime Robotics is in the
We are ocean space enablers of autonomy.
prime position for continued expansion.
That is what we are known for, and that is
Currently achieving a yearly growth of
what we will continue to do.”
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