Ocean Infinity has reached a significant milestone in maritime innovation by receiving a Statement of Compliance (SOC) from DNV for its groundbreaking remotely supported vessel operations. This certification from DNV, the world’s leading classification society, establishes Ocean Infinity as the first organization in the industry to meet the required standards for large vessel technology and operations, paving the way for the onshoring of marine-related tasks and activities.
Industry-Wide Recognition at SMM Hamburg
The significance of this achievement was highlighted at the SMM in Hamburg, the world’s largest maritime trade fair, where DNV formally presented the SOC to Ocean Infinity. This high-profile event underscores the importance of Ocean Infinity’s pioneering work within the maritime sector.
Oliver Plunkett, CEO of Ocean Infinity, expressed his pride in the achievement: “Since we started the business, Ocean Infinity has been about innovation, technology, and pushing the boundaries in the maritime industry. This is a significant achievement for the team. My congratulations go to them all, as well as those who have worked with them and contributed at DNV and Vard, our shipbuilder. As we deliver our services to our customers, we are continually balancing the need for technology-driven progress with safely bringing them solutions. Our approach is to pioneer with speed but not haste, becoming the first organization to receive this Statement of Compliance is a testament to that. I am looking forward to watching as we begin to put our ideas of onshoring marine activities and tasks into practice.”
Addressing Industry Challenges
Ocean Infinity’s achievement directly addresses some of the most pressing challenges in the maritime industry, such as rising operational costs, the demand for sustainable operations, and the need for an inclusive workforce. By successfully implementing remote vessel technology, which brings maritime work into the office, Ocean Infinity has not only demonstrated its feasibility and safety but also set the stage for widespread future adoption. This innovation has the potential to transform global shipping practices, leading to a more efficient and sustainable future.
Jarle Coll Blomhoff, Head of Digital Ship Systems at DNV, commented on the milestone: “The journey towards fully autonomous and remote operation of vessels is gathering pace, and DNV is very proud to be the class partner Ocean Infinity has entrusted to accompany them on their journey. By proceeding step-by-step, beginning by moving some functions to a remote center, and ensuring that these innovations are built on a foundation of expertise and trusted assurance, Ocean Infinity is helping the industry to move forward with confidence. That is why we are so pleased to have awarded them the first fleet-wide Statement of Compliance with the DNV-CG-0264 Autonomous and Remotely Operated Ships guideline for the first phase of Ocean Infinity’s onshoring plans. This is an achievement that has also been acknowledged by the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). We are looking forward to continuing the journey with Ocean Infinity and MPA towards full autonomous and remote vessel operation.”
Future Plans and Expansion
Ocean Infinity’s plans for the future are already in motion. The next two vessels in their fleet are in the final stages of testing to meet the new standard, and the team is already working on the next phase of its remote marine operations program. These efforts will continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in the maritime industry, setting new standards for technology, safety, and sustainability.
Key Achievements
- DNV Statement of Compliance for the remotely supported operational concept for the Armada 78 fleet of offshore survey vessels.
- DNV Statement of Compliance for Armada 78 03, the first vessel in the Armada fleet to complete the upgrade and verification process.
- Interim Acknowledgement from the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) to commence operations worldwide, with Navigators and Engineers working from an ashore Remote Operations Center (ROC) to support onboard crews and reduce their workload.
About DNV Maritime
DNV is the world’s leading classification society and a recognized advisor for the maritime industry, enhancing safety, quality, energy efficiency, and environmental performance across all vessel types and offshore structures. DNV invests heavily in research and development to find solutions that address strategic, operational, or regulatory challenges.
About Ocean Infinity
Ocean Infinity is a fast-moving marine technology company specializing in the development and deployment of robotics for large-scale, subsea data acquisition. Since its establishment in 2017, Ocean Infinity has pioneered the use of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), playing a vital role in some of the most ambitious offshore projects, including the search for missing airliner MH370 and the discovery of the missing Argentinian submarine, ARA San Juan.
Today, Ocean Infinity serves governments, energy organizations, and scientific institutions, including RWE, SSE, Ørsted, bp, Energinet, Shell, the Australian government, Equinor, NOAA, BOEM, and Total. The company is taking its ambitions further by creating a fleet of robotic ships, with its Armada fleet set to be the largest fleet of remotely operable ships in the world. Ocean Infinity employs over 500 technology and data specialists worldwide, spread across Europe, Southeast Asia, North America, and Australasia.
Source Ocean Infinity