Reach Subsea has received a trading permit from the Norwegian Maritime Authorities allowing its Reach Remote 1 Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) to operate without a supporting vessel.
The approval, supported and validated by DNV, marks the final phase toward full certification for the Reach Remote programme, which aims to support subsea operations using robotics.
Reach Remote 1 has already been in commercial use, with this milestone enabling fully independent operations. It is the first USV of its size with integrated Work Class ROV capability to gain such approval.
On 11 October the vessel began its latest project for Shell on the Ormen Lange field, operating entirely under remote control.
“The Reach Remote programme is central to our strategy to transform subsea operations through ocean robotics. This milestone 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 in a new class of USVs designed to carry out offshore tasks with lower emissions and reduced need for offshore personnel. Reach Remote 2 is preparing for deployment in Australia, while Reach Remote 3 and 4 are currently under construction.
This news follows the announcement last week of a first trial of an autonomous vessel operating in Dutch waters outside a closed test area, following a change to the Inland Navigation Police Regulations (BPR) introduced in April 2025 that allowed exemptions from the requirement for vessels to be crewed at all times.
The Port of Rotterdam Authority completed tests with an unmanned surface vessel (USV) in the Prinses Margriethaven on Maasvlakte 2 after Harbour Master René de Vries granted the first such exemption for this trial, enabling Demcon Unmanned Systems’ V3000 vessel to sail autonomously under supervision from a crewed Port of Rotterdam Authority vessel.
