Saipem’s Underwater Drone Carries Out Autonomous Survey at Njord Field
marine ecosystems through the use of underwater robotics.The activity forms part of a 10-year contract signed in 2019 with Equinor, described as the first global service agreement for underwater drones in the offshore energy sector.Under the contract, the drone performs inspections and interventions on subsea assets to provide data on potential hazards and support the integrity and safety of Equinor’s subsea systems.Since entering service, Hydrone-R has logged more than 500 days of subsea residency, including remotely operated missions, and has achieved a continuous seabed residency record of 240
The Rise of the Aquanaut
of living under the seas.Aquanauts number about 100 living members, said Helmuth, whereas NASA says there are hundreds of astronauts, including those active and retired. Would-be aquanauts currently face a lack of opportunity to live underwater — although Helmuth hopes that will change soon.Subsea habitats are not a new invention. Jacques Cousteau built the first in 1962, although it was only about the size of an elevator.The only currently operating underwater station for research during saturation diving that Helmuth knows of is the Aquarius Reef Base operated off the Florida Keys by Florida
Fincantieri, WSense Partner on Underwater Monitoring Systems
Fincantieri has signed a strategic agreement with Italian deep-tech company WSense to jointly develop and commercialize advanced wireless technologies for underwater applications, strengthening the shipbuilder’s position in subsea monitoring and protection systems.The agreement covers both the co-development of wireless underwater communication solutions and a commercial framework for deploying the technology in environmental monitoring and infrastructure integrity applications through Fincantieri Infrastructure.Under the partnership, Fincantieri will integrate WSense’s wireless technologies
Boskalis Subsea Services Launches Collective-Based Model for North Sea Decommissioning
Boskalis Subsea Services, a subsea provider of decommissioning, IRM and construction solutions, has launched a new collaborative delivery model, "The Decommissioning Collective," designed to change how subsea infrastructure decommissioning is planned and executed in the North Sea. The new model marks a shift away from fragmented, project-by-project contracting, enabling operators to plan and deliver decommissioning activity within a shared framework. Developed by Boskalis Subsea Services and shaped through engagement with operators, the approach is focused on improved alignment, efficienc
TGS Gets Another OBN Acquisition Job in North Sea
Provider of energy data and intelligence TGS has signed of an ocean bottom node (OBN) contract in Europe, extending the acquisition campaign further.The company’s node-on-a-rope crew is scheduled to start acquisition in early April and the contract has a duration of approximately 45 days."We are very pleased with this contract award, which extends our OBN acquisition campaign in Europe for the 2026 season. Our node-on-a-rope crew ensures efficient acquisition of high-quality data over a well-established producing field for a repeat customer.“The data is used to optimize resource
Rovtech, Unique Group to Expand ROV Reach to Middle East and Asia
by Rovtech. The partners said the arrangement could be extended to additional regions in the future.The partnership builds on VALOR’s existing global operating track record, with systems already in use in markets including Australia, India, the Middle East and Brazil.By combining Rovtech’s subsea robotics technology with Unique Group’s regional presence, the companies aim to strengthen local support and accelerate market penetration in regions where demand for high-performance ROV systems is growing.A key element of the collaboration is training and capability development. From early
Eni Enlists Shearwater for 3D Seismic Survey in Timor Sea
Offshore seismic services firm Shearwater Geoservices has secured a 3D seismic acquisition contract by Eni, covering the PSC TL SO 22-23 area in the Timor Sea.The project comprises approximately 1,500 square kilometers and is scheduled to commence late in the first quarter of 2026.The two-month survey will be conducted by Shearwater’s high-capacity vessel SW Bly, leveraging the company’s advanced acquisition capabilities and processing software to fast-track delivery of high-quality Decision Ready Data directly from the vessel to the client.“This award strengthens Shearwater’s
TotalEnergies Hires Fugro for North Sea Offshore Wind Survey
Fugro has been awarded a contract to carry out geotechnical surveys for the NordSee Energies 1 offshore wind farm being developed by TotalEnergies in the German North Sea.The surveys will assess seabed conditions at planned wind turbine locations and along inter-array cable routes, providing data to support the design of turbine foundations and associated infrastructure.NordSee Energies 1, located at the N-12.1 site, has a planned capacity of 2 GW and is part of Germany’s offshore wind expansion program in the North Sea.Fieldwork is under way around 170 kilometers off the German coast, with
TGS Gets Streamer 4D Contract Offshore Norway
Provider of energy data and intelligence TGS has secured a 4D streamer acquisition contract in the North Sea, offshore Norway.A Ramform vessel is scheduled to mobilize for the survey in the second quarter of 2026, with the contract expected to run for approximately 65 days. TGS did not disclose the name of the client or the value of the contract.“We are very pleased to secure this 4D streamer contract for a repeat customer. We have successfully conducted several monitoring surveys in this area, demonstrating the capabilities of our Ramform-designed vessels and our proprietary GeoStreamer
December 2025
