Norway Institute of Marine Research (IMR) has awarded the contract for the construction of four autonomous research vessels to Kongsberg Maritime AS, as part of its efforts to advance monitoring of Norwegian seas.
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More specifically, two new Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) will arrive at the institute during the summer, while two unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) will arrive in the autumn of 2022.
Already in 2022, the AUVs can be used on cruises, says research director Geir Huse, who also heads the IMR’s cruise committee.
The shipping company and the research groups immediately start implementing the vessels in our cruise activity. It entails competence building and innovation along the entire “value chain”: control of the vessels, southbound, transport solutions and instrumentation for data transmission,
…explains Huse.
The institute will use the vessels for the management and monitoring of the marine ecosystem. The move comes as the pandemic crisis ensured the ongoing adaptation to more high-tech observation methods.
Today we celebrate that years of work to strengthen and develop surveillance at sea are coming to fruition. Cruises are the backbone of much of the advice we give. The new autonomous vessels and new coastal research vessel will make us even better able to conduct modern and efficient monitoring of our seas,
…says Sissel Rogne, CEO at the Institute of Marine Research.
