By Mark Wilson, Director of Remote Operations APAC, Fugro
Australia’s maritime sector is a cornerstone of the nation’s economy. With a staggering $118.5 billion in total output and supporting over 462,000 jobs, the sector’s significance cannot be overstated.
While the sector is crucial in facilitating global trade, it comes at a significant environment cost. Statistics from the Australian government revealed that the domestic maritime sector emitted around 2 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, or 2.2% of its transport emissions and 0.4% of total national emissions between 2021 and 2022.
Remote and autonomous technologies play a key role in reducing Australia’s maritime carbon footprint. They can transform maritime operations delivering sustainable economic, environmental and social benefits and can enable further opportunities in the emerging renewables markets, highlighting their importance in the global energy transition.
However, to fully realise the benefits of deploying these technologies, supportive policies and legislation to expedite their adoption for both industries is required.
The benefits of remote and autonomous technologies
Uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) and electric powered remotely operated vehicles (eROVs) can be a powerful alternative to the traditional crewed vessels reducing fuel consumption by up to 95% compared to conventional vessels, leading to a substantial reduction in the overall carbon footprint of operations.
Inspection and survey work to ensure the safety, compliance and maintenance of marine infrastructure have previously relied on physical inspections, manual measurements, and the expert judgment of surveyors. This is often time-consuming and can be prone to human error, and can put marine crew at risk.
Remote operation centres (ROCs) are the hub of remote operations where crew are able to manage the deployment of USVs and eROVS offshore. Operating from the ROCs, the crew can utilise virtual and augmented realities for ship inspections, maintenance, navigation, and even training simulations. This integration of technology enhances crew safety by allowing them to perform complex or hazardous tasks remotely, minimising direct exposure to risks.
There are several direct as well as indirect cost benefits to be gained from the deployment of USVs in maritime operations. Equipped with high-tech sensors and GPS technology that ensures accurate and reliable data collection, USVs can collect data in shallow water that may be inaccessible to traditional survey vessels. With their smaller size, USVs also boost a faster rate of data acquisition with its increased manoeuvrability. Coupled with the significant reduction in manpower that is required to operate the USVs, project developers can reduce the overall cost of hydrographic surveying works and minimise the potential safety risks association associated with the deployment of crew in the hazardous offshore environment.
The development of USVs and eROVs as well as other cutting-edge technologies is creating exciting new career paths. This extends not only to current maritime professionals but also to those in related industries like oil and gas and the emerging renewables sector. This broader talent pool, encompassing specialists like ROV operators, will be crucial for the maritime industry’s long-term success and diversification.
Beyond maritime – the opportunity for Australia’s renewables industry
Beyond the maritime industry, the use of remote and autonomous technologies is an opportunity for Australia emerging renewables market. The Federal government recently awarded the first feasibility licenses for offshore wind projects to six wind farms proposed to be built offshore Gippsland in Victoria. With a further six licenses expected to be awarded, this brings the pipeline of offshore wind energy to approximately 12 Gigawatts.
Victoria’s first offshore wind farm, the Star of the South project, is expected to be operational by 2028. Following an offshore geotechnical site investigation performed by Fugro, the project is now on course to begin the detailed assessment work to determine feasibility, including environmental studies and management plans. In the pre-construction surveys, the deployment of USVs and eROVs will be key to acquire the necessary Geo-data to help the project developers determine the routes for the inter-array and export cables and finalize the layout of the wind farm.
Moreover, as Australia ramps up its offshore carbon capture and storage exploration, extensive site characterisation will be required to help plan, develop and operate carbon storage sites safely and efficiently. With CCS storage sites typically located in areas with legacy oil and gas wells, this could also increase the risk of carbon dioxide leakage in addition to uncalculated risks such as seismic activity and toxic brine displacement. However, monitoring of the seabed of the storage site is a complex undertaking, from measuring the reservoir pressure to the near seabed, seabed and water-column conditions. By employing USVs and eROVs, companies can efficiently monitor the seabed condition, significantly reducing costs, personnel exposure and the need for constant involvement of crewed vessels.
Policy as the backbone for adoption of technology-enabled solutions
The opportunity to scale commercialisation of remote and autonomous solutions for the maritime and renewable energy sectors will be hampered if policy and legislation doesn’t keep up.
Although USVs have been in use for marine operations for nearly a decade, many marine authorities have yet to pass definitive legislation due to the need to consider the impact on a wide array of stakeholders, including the national and international bodies, shipping companies and port authorities.
As such, engagement with stakeholders (often over a long time period) is required for the successful deployment of remote and autonomous vehicles. In the deployment of Fugro’s first Blue Essence® 12 metre USV in Australia, the company consulted with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and the Pilbara Ports Authority, alongside our client Woodside, more than a year in advance to obtain the necessary approvals.
This was particularly challenging as this would be the first uncrewed operation in Australian waters, and there was no operational model or industry standards to serve as reference. The development of the operational standards that followed was achieved through close collaboration with the AMSA and Woodside, and today forms the foundation for remote operations in Australia.
Offshore wind site appraisal and concept design graphic
Remote and autonomous solutions for a more sustainable future
The benefits of remote and autonomous solutions for the maritime industry are undeniable. These solutions have demonstrably reduced the carbon footprint of operations, provided rapid data insights for decision-making and fostered a safer, more sustainable and cost-efficient industry. Moreover, the benefits that it offers extend well beyond the maritime industry, holding wider application for the emerging renewable sectors as well.
To fully unlock this potential, supportive policy and legislation are crucial. Clear regulations are needed to ensure safe integration of these technologies, while fostering international collaboration will be key in developing consistent standards that can be adopted globally. By addressing these considerations, this will position the Australian maritime industry as a leader in the transition towards a safe, sustainable, and livable world.
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