A nine-metre uncrewed surface vessel has successfully completed a voyage from Trondheim to Mongstad in what is being described as one of the most ambitious autonomous marine operations conducted along the Norwegian coastline to date.
On the morning of May 18, the Mariner X departed from the headquarters of Maritime Robotics at Brattørkaia in Trondheim. After travelling more than 500 nautical miles over nearly a week at sea, the uncrewed vessel has now safely arrived at its destination north of Bergen, entirely without crew onboard.
The successful voyage marks the largest completed test so far for the autonomous platform.
“This is Norwegian-built technology that makes complex and hazardous offshore operations safer, more efficient and significantly more environmentally friendly,” says Eirik Hovstein of Maritime Robotics.
The public was able to follow the voyage in real time as the autonomous vessel navigated south along the Norwegian coast.
The Mariner X serves as both a test and training platform for autonomous marine operations. The company has previously operationalised uncrewed vessels in real-world operations, but describes this voyage as an important step toward scaling the technology for larger and more extensive deployments.
“This is an important step in scaling marine robotics across the Norwegian Continental Shelf,” says Arne Gürtner, Senior Vice President – Technology, Digital and Innovation at Equinor.
The operation was carried out in collaboration between Equinor and Maritime Robotics.
“We have already tested and operationalised uncrewed vessels in real operations, but the Mariner X gives us an opportunity to push the boundaries of autonomy in a controlled, yet realistic environment. The goal is to understand how these technologies perform in day-to-day offshore operations and what it takes to move from promising trials to scalable solutions”
According to Gürtner, the broader ambition is to reduce exposure in high-risk environments, simplify offshore operations through smarter and lower-footprint solutions, and improve efficiency across marine operations.
The long-term objective of the project is to demonstrate how autonomy, sensors and remote operations can contribute to safer, more efficient and more sustainable offshore operations on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
Behind the project is Maritime Robotics, one of Norway’s leading environments for uncrewed maritime systems. The company was founded in Trondheim and has spent more than 15 years developing technology for autonomous and remotely operated vehicles on and under water.
Over the years, the company has delivered solutions to defence, research, oil and gas, and offshore industries. Its work spans autonomous surface vessels, sensor systems, control systems and integration of drone technology for maritime operations.
Maritime Robotics also has experience with aerial drones and uncrewed systems more broadly, contributing to Norway’s position as a leading nation in autonomous technologies. This combined expertise is now used to develop the next generation of uncrewed vessels.
MarinerX is one of the clearest examples of this development. The vessel is designed for long-range autonomous operation under demanding conditions along the Norwegian coastline.
MarinerX operated mainly between 08:00 and 20:00 during the voyage and reached the destination at Kårstø Friday 22 May. Tthe voyage stands as an important milestone for autonomous maritime operations in Norway, and a clear signal that uncrewed technology is no longer limited to aerial drones, but increasingly shaping the future of offshore vessels.