The 24-metre uncrewed surface vessel Challenger has successfully completed its first fully remote subsea project, marking a major milestone for the joint venture between DeepOcean, Solstad Offshore and Østensjø Rederi.
During the operation, both Challenger and its remotely operated underwater vehicle were controlled entirely from DeepOcean’s Remote Operations Centre in Haugesund, Norway, without personnel being required on board the vessel.
The project was carried out for Equinor at its subsea test facility in Kårstø and involved simultaneous operations alongside the vessel BB Ocean.
As part of the work, Challenger’s underwater vehicle was used to adjust and remove a protective manifold roof structure, supporting installation activities at the test site.
DeepOcean announced the successful completion of the operation on September 4, describing it as an important step in the development of next-generation remotely operated subsea services.
Challenger was ordered by the USV A/S joint venture as part of a programme aimed at improving subsea operations while reducing CO₂ emissions by more than 90% compared with conventional vessel-based methods.
Construction of the vessel began at GONDAN Shipbuilders in March 2024. Challenger was launched at the Astilleros Gondán shipyard on February 26, 2025, officially named in March and delivered to its owners in May.
The vessel was designed by Salt Ship Design and is equipped with a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system.
Its technology allows Challenger to be remotely operated from shore and remain at sea for up to 30 days, providing a more efficient alternative for selected offshore and subsea operations.
DeepOcean said the successful Equinor project demonstrates the potential of uncrewed vessels to perform complex subsea work while reducing fuel consumption, emissions and the number of personnel required offshore.
The completion of Challenger’s first fully remote assignment represents another significant step toward the wider use of uncrewed and remotely controlled vessels in offshore operations.
