Pioneering USV seabed mapping in the North Sea

“This is pioneering work, not just for MAREANO: It is probably the first time that we in Norway are surveying on this scale with USV technology.” says chief engineer Helge Welde from the Norwegian Mapping Authority.  
 
This year marks MAREANO's 20^th anniversary, but also the first time the seabed mapping programme is using uncrewed vessels to collect seabed data. 
 
Fugro has been awarded the contract after an open tender competition. Their new USV, the Blue Eclipse®, will set course for the North Sea in August.  

Well-equipped USV

The Blue Eclipse®, is 18 metres and the largest USV in Fugro’s fleet, equipped with advanced high-resolution, high-density multibeam echo sounders and sub-bottom data acquisition systems. The USV will gather comprehensive datasets, including bathymetry, water column data, acoustic backscatter data, and sub-bottom profiler data to understand the seabed’s topography and geology. 
 
Nick Simmons, Fugro’s USV Services Director said: “Bringing our advanced Blue Eclipse® USV to the MAREANO 2025 programme is a significant step, highlighting the practical application of uncrewed vessel technology for large-scale mapping projects. This initiative allows us to deliver the high-resolution, comprehensive seabed data MAREANO requires, while reducing the environmental impact of surveys.” 

Areas in the North Sea to be surveyed with USV 

Fugro’s USV shall survey over 675 km² in the North Sea, with water depths ranging from 90 to 250 metres, in prioritized areas delimited within three blocks outside the territorial border. 

About the tender process 

An open invitation to tender for seabed mapping with USV in the North Sea was published January 2025, with a deadline on 24 February 2025. Six suppliers submitted tenders to the competition, and the contract was awarded to Fugro.  
 
The contract was published with a value of 6.000.000 NOK, with the possibility of an option of up to 10.000.000 NOK in addition. In the contract with Fugro, an option of 1.100.000 NOK has been released to extend the mapping area towards Skagerrak. 
 
The tenders were evaluated based on the following criteria:  

• price (30 percent) 
• quality and ability (50 percent) 
• competence transfer (20 percent) 

Environmental requirements for public procurements 

This tender process will help MAREANO to develop the specifications and award criteria for climate and environmental considerations used in future procurements. 
 
Helge Welde at the Norwegian Mapping Authority, Hydrographic Service, says:

“MAREANO wants to accelerate the shift towards lower carbon emissions in seabed mapping. Use of USVs is one way to achieve this goal. Experiences from this year's seabed mapping with USV technology will give us direction for opportunities in future surveys. It is natural to assume that traditional survey vessels with crew will be relevant in future surveys, especially considering that MAREANO also needs to map inaccessible areas, such as the deep sea in the Norwegian Sea.”