Reach Subsea has made history with the first uncrewed subsea vessel to receive a trading permit for fully remote operations. With backing from Norwegian regulators and DNV, the Reach Remote 1 ushers in a new chapter for safer and cleaner work at sea.
Reach Subsea has received official approval to operate its Reach Remote 1 vessel entirely without a crewed support ship, a first for the subsea industry. The Norwegian Maritime Authorities granted the trading permit after technical validation from DNV, allowing the vessel to run commercial operations remotely.
The Reach Remote 1 has already proven its capabilities in offshore projects, and this latest approval is being hailed as a breakthrough for both the company and the wider maritime sector.
“The Reach Remote programme is central to our strategy to transform subsea operations through ocean robotics. This reflects the extraordinary collaboration across our teams and with the Norwegian Maritime Authorities,” said Jostein Alendal, CEO of Reach Subsea.
The vessel is the first of its kind—an uncrewed surface vessel (USV) large enough to handle integrated Work Class Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) tasks. Since beginning operations in April, it has been supported by a separate vessel to provide human oversight during demonstrations of remotely controlled, unmanned work.
Inge Grutle, Chief Operating Officer of Reach Subsea, said their team has now proven the system’s capability and safety. “Our people have proved that Reach Remote has equivalent or better maritime safety level and situational awareness compared to manned vessels, which is validated by DNV and NMA through this trading permit.”
On October 11, Reach Remote 1 set sail to continue its assignment for Shell on the Ormen Lange field, operating completely on its own for the first time. The voyage marked a turning point for the company and for the future of remote-controlled subsea services.
Reach Remote 1 is only the beginning. The company is preparing to deploy Reach Remote 2 in Australia, while Reach Remote 3 and 4 are now under construction. Each vessel is designed to reduce emissions and minimize the need for offshore personnel, signaling how the next generation of subsea operations may soon look very different from today.
