and Aurora to produce ‘difference grids’. In ~5,000m water depth the Saildrone matched the baseline legacy data to +/10m in most areas (0.2%):
4. ENVIRONMENTAL, SAFETY & SUSTAINABILITY OUTCOMES
Saildrone partnered with RightShip to conduct a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) analysis following the 2023 guidelines established by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) for quantifying avoided emissions. The study used the RV Geo Resolution, NOAA Ships Thomas Jefferson, and Okeanos Explorer as reference vessels, as they are equipped with representative sonar suites for deep-water surveying. The analysis estimated that deploying the Saildrone Surveyor instead of these traditional survey vessels could avoid 243.32 tons of CO₂ emissions, representing a 98% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. VESSEL NAME
EMISSION CO2 (TONNES)
R/V Geo Resolution
399.86
NOAA Ship Thomas Jeffersoon
212.38
NOAA Ship Okeanus Explorer
133.14
Average for crewed vessels
234.32
Saildrone Surveyor
5.14 Table 2. CO2 Emission Comparison
Beyond reducing Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) concerns, the use of uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) like the Saildrone Surveyor brings significant benefits to the quality of life for hydrographic surveyors, cable route engineers, and client representatives. Traditionally, these professionals needed to spend extended periods at sea to collect and analyze data, often facing challenging and sometimes hazardous conditions. By leveraging USVs, they can now perform their work remotely from shore-based offices or home offices, reducing time away from family and minimizing the physical and mental strain associated with offshore deployments2. Additionally, reducing the need for at-sea deployments broadens access to these careers, making the field more inclusive and attractive to a larger and more diverse work-
force. The next generation of professionals, who may seek a better work- life balance or prefer more stable, land-based roles, may find remote operations more appealing3. It also accommodates more experienced industry members whose personal circumstances—such as childcare, eldercare responsibilities, or physical disabilities—may limit their ability to work offshore. By offering flexible, remote work opportunities, the industry can retain experienced talent while also attracting new professionals who may not have considered maritime careers in a traditional offshore capacity. This shift not only expands the talent pool but also fosters a more inclusive and dynamic workforce for the future of offshore surveying and route development. Deep-Water ASVs also open the possibly to use local survey assets or vessels of opportunity (mobilized with transportable survey equipment) to map the shallow water sections. This was not previously a viable option when the main survey vessel equipped with a deep-water sonar would reach the shallow water part at the beginning and end of each transoceanic crossing and could complete both scopes. This alternative approach further reduces the overall carbon footprint (by negating transits between projects) and creates opportunities for survey companies without deep-water capable vessels to complete in the subsea telecoms survey market. The Saildrone can be transported by sea and, as the Surveyor fleet grows, will be strategically pre-positioned, enabling efficient support for projects worldwide.
5. FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
The Saildrone Surveyor has proven itself capable of meeting the requirements for supporting deep-water cable route surveys. There are areas for future development that could further enhance its performance, expand its operational scope, and strengthen its position as the future of deep-water cable route surveying. By addressing these opportunities, the Surveyor could become an even more versatile and competitive alternative to traditional survey vessels.
By leveraging USVs, they can now perform their work remotely from shore-based offices or home offices, reducing time away from family and minimizing the physical and mental strain associated with offshore deployments. WEATHER CAPABILITY:
During the course of the demo the Surveyor’s performance was primarily tested in conditions up to Beaufort JULY 2025 | ISSUE 143
43