#363 Uncrewed Vessels and Unprecedented Data

#363 Uncrewed Vessels and Unprecedented Data

From Engineering Matters by Reby Media

March 26, 2026 · 36 min

About this episode

This episode explores the role of uncrewed vessels in offshore wind projects and the challenges of data collection.

In its seventh Allocation Round the UK executed the largest offshore wind auction in European history, putting pen to paper on 8.4GW of new capacity, enough to power 10 million homes. Allocation Round 8 is expected to be even more ambitious, as the UK looks to upgrade its radar systems to enable a 10GW installation, according to Windtech International . Offshore wind projects require complete understanding of conditions on, and below, the seabed. As projects proliferate and demand for surveys and more accurate data becomes truly vast, the deployment of cutting edge technology becomes essential. Uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) patrolling the surface and remotely operated vehicles diving beneath the waves have been key to sustainable offshore operations. Not just in environmental terms and added human safety, but to achieve reasonable operational costs in increasingly asset-rich coastal seas. From the early, smaller vessels designed for a specific purpose, designers and builders have increased size and diversified the capabilities of individual platforms. Today, Fugro’s Blue Prism®, it’s first fully dedicated site screening geophysics USV –  can do much more. In this…

People in this episode

Guests: Roger Birchall, Marco Gilissen, Simon McIlroy

Topics covered

  • offshore wind
  • uncrewed vessels
  • data collection
  • geophysics
  • sustainable operations

Keywords

  • offshore wind auction
  • uncrewed surface vessels
  • data collection
  • geophysics
  • sustainable operations
  • marine technology
  • surveying

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: SSE Renewables, Fugro

Products: Fugro’s Blue Prism®

Places: UK

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