US-based marine robotics company, Ocean Infinity, has achieved a major milestone in maritime innovation, receiving a Statement of Compliance (SOC) from DNV for its novel remotely operated vessel operation.
The certification from classification society DNV makes Ocean Infinity the first company in the industry to achieve the required technology and operational standard for large remotely operated vessels and enables the start of onshoring of marine-related tasks and activities.
“Since the company’s inception, Ocean Infinity has been about innovation, technology and pushing the boundaries in the maritime industry. This is a significant achievement for our team,” said Oliver Plunkett, CEO of Ocean Infinity. “My congratulations go to them all and to those who have worked with them and contributed to DNV and Vard, our shipbuilder. In delivering our services to our customers, we are constantly balancing the need for technology-driven progress with safe solutions for them.”
Ocean Infinity is the first organisation to receive this declaration of conformity
Ocean Infinite’s approach is to pioneer quickly, but not hastily. The fact that the company is the first organisation to receive this declaration of conformity is proof of this. “I look forward to seeing how we put our ideas for onshoring maritime activities and tasks into practice,” emphasised Punktet, on the occasion of the official handover of the declaration of conformity at SMM in Hamburg.
Ocean Infinity’s solution aims to respond to pressing industry challenges such as rising operational costs, the need for sustainable operations and an inclusive workforce. The successful implementation of remote ship technology, bringing work at sea to the office, not only proves its feasibility and safety, but also sets the stage for widespread future adoption that will transform global shipping practices.
Building confidence in the technology through a step-by-step approach
“The journey towards fully autonomous and remotely operated vessels is accelerating, and DNV is very proud to be the class partner that Ocean Infinity has engaged to guide them on their journey,” says Jarle Coll Blomhoff, Head of Digital Ship Systems at DNV. By taking a step-by-step approach, starting with moving some functions to a remote centre and ensuring that these innovations are built on a foundation of expertise and trusted security, Ocean Infinity is helping the industry to move forward with confidence.
“We are therefore delighted to have awarded Ocean Infinity the first fleet-wide declaration of conformity with DNV-CG-0264 ‘Autonomous and remotely operated ships’ for the first phase of the onshoring plans,” Blomhoff emphasised. This is an achievement that has also been recognised by the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). “We look forward to continuing the journey with Ocean Infinity and the MPA towards fully autonomous and remote-controlled vessel operations,” said Blomhoff.
Conversion of Ocean Infinity’s next two ships is imminent
Ocean Infinity’s next two vessels to be retrofitted to the new standard are in the final stages of testing, while the team is already working on the next phase of its program for deployment at sea. The company’s key achievements to date include:
- DNV Declaration of Conformity for the remotely operated concept of operation for the Armada 78 fleet of offshore survey vessels
- DNV Declaration of Conformity for Armada 78 03, the first vessel in the Armada fleet to complete the upgrade and verification process
- Provisional approval from the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) to commence global operations with navigators and engineers working from a shore-based ROC to provide additional support to the crews on board and reduce their workload
