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Ocean Access has taken a major technological leap in the development of its submersible sensor buoy. With support from Testination and funding through the SIVA fund, the battery capacity and operational lifetime have been extended from one month to one year.

“We have worked extensively with prototyping and testing, but we have now taken larger steps to get closer to the final product. We have made major changes to the control system and significantly reduced power consumption in standby mode. In addition, we have upgraded the buoy’s battery pack,” says Apoorva Sinha at Ocean Access.

Bouy testing in the Nyhavna harbour basin. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

“Being able to more than tenfold the buoy’s operational lifetime is a huge step forward. We can now offer long-term deployments for our customers. The buoy gives them entirely new opportunities to collect data over long periods without interruptions, while reducing both costs and risk at sea,” he adds.

The submersible sensor buoy is a central part of the company’s technology portfolio and is used for environmental monitoring, data collection, and communication in demanding maritime environments. The increased capacity significantly reduces the need for maintenance and offshore operations, resulting in both lower costs and improved safety.

Apoorva Sinha, Ocean Access. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

Expanding into space technology

Ocean Access is simultaneously working on a space technology project where depth measurements from the buoy are combined with satellite observations. The goal is to train models that provide better insight into ocean environmental conditions, for example detecting and understanding algal blooms.

“When we combine ocean data with satellite data, we unlock a completely new ability to understand and monitor the marine environment with greater accuracy,” says Apoorva Sinha.

Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

The buoy provides detailed measurements throughout the entire water column, while satellites offer a broader, high-level view of the ocean surface and environmental parameters. The project will run over the next two years and is funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) through Arctic Phi-Lab. The Arctic Phi-Lab consortium includes KSAT, Akvaplan-Niva, Norce, UiT and Norinnova. The project is carried out together with a German partner and is part of a broader initiative to connect ocean technology with space-based data.

“Ocean Access demonstrates how new technology can open entirely new opportunities for gathering ocean knowledge. Their support from Testination and the SIVA fund is an important contribution to the innovation strength of the entire cluster,” says Frode Halvorsen, cluster manager at Ocean Autonomy Cluster.

Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

About Ocean Access

Ocean Access develops technology for communication between the sea surface and underwater installations. The company has developed a unique buoy platform that enables real-time data collection and transfer from demanding maritime environments. The technology supports improved monitoring, research, and commercial utilization of ocean areas. Ocean Access is an incubator company in the FI Ocean Space Incubator and a member of the Ocean Autonomy Cluster.

About Testination

Testination is a national test center that offers facilities, expertise, and funding opportunities to early-stage and growth companies within technology and industry. Through schemes such as the SIVA fund, they help reduce risk and accelerate the path from development to commercialization of new technology.

About ESA BIC Norway

Ocean Access is also part of ESA Business Incubation Centre (ESA BIC) Norway, a program under the European Space Agency that supports startups using space-related technology, data, or services in commercial applications. Through ESA BIC, Ocean Access gains access to technical expertise, business development support, and funding that strengthen the company’s work on integrating satellite data with its ocean technology platform. The program helps accelerate the transition from early-stage development to market-ready solutions, particularly for companies operating at the intersection of space and ocean technology.