Modus Seabed Intervention has announced that it has completed system integration and testing of a hybrid UUV that the company developed in partnership with Saab Dynamics.

The testing of the UUV took place in both Sweden and the United Kingdom.

“Our hybrid AUV capability is a game changing development for the subsea industry that innovatively addresses the sector challenges and the current economic environment,” says Modus Seabed Intervention managing director Jake Tompkins, through the Energy Business Review.

Tompkins continues by saying, “our ongoing investments into subsea vehicle development, disruptive innovation and operating processes will ensure our customers can benefit from a differentiated approach to survey, inspection and intervention, providing cost effective, high quality performance.”

The UUV, which is believed to be one of the first unmanned underwater vehicles that has capabilities and characteristics of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), has several features that make it ideal for the oil and gas industry, as well as with interconnectors and offshore renewables.

It has increased thrust, which supports high speed surveying, and it also has additional batteries, providing extended endurance. While in water, the UUV has a depth rate of 1,200 meters, but that can be upgraded to 3,000 meters to meet project-specific applications.

Now that testing has been completed, Modus and Saab are now working to create advanced sensor payload packages and operating methodologies for the UUV. Modus is also preparing to deploy the UUV commercially.

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