With support from the government of Tasmania, marine robotics company Ocean Infinity will open a robotic ship operations center in Tasmania, Australia.
Australian expansion
The Australian operations center is the latest step in the company’s growth, with centers already operational in the UK and Sweden, and planned for Singapore and another Asian location yet to be announced. Ocean Infinity will soon embark on the search for suitable premises in Hobart in Australia.
Ocean Infinity plans to operate the first in its fleet of 36m Armada ships from the Australian operations center. According to the company, these ships are suited to large-scale hydrography work, enabling the work to be conducted with fewer people at sea and with fewer emissions than a conventional ship.
Ocean Infinity’s exploration and marine robotics solutions can reportedly be applied to maritime operations across sectors including government, telecommunications, energy, and science and research. The international company believes that robotic technology is the key to safer and more environmentally responsible operations at sea.
Executive comment
David Field, managing director of Ocean Infinity Australia and New Zealand, said, “This new operations center in Tasmania will give us a more established infrastructure to deliver hydrography services for the government and of course also provide capacity to take on more work in this high-growth region. Ocean Infinity has already demonstrated that the use of robotics can make for more sustainable operations in Australian waters. In a recent data project for the government, our robotic vessels collected 58% of the total data but contributed just 4% of the total fuel CO2 emissions.”
Premier of Tasmania and minister for state development, trade and the Antarctic, Jeremy Rockliff, said, “Ocean Infinity’s decision to establish its robotic ship operations center in Hobart highlights the state’s strong economy and growing prominence as a hub for maritime innovation. Ocean Infinity’s establishment will deliver up to 50 new full-time jobs, providing highly skilled positions in the maritime and technology sectors, strategically aligning with Tasmania’s competitive advantages.”
Minister for advanced manufacturing and defence industries and minister for science and technology, Madeleine Ogilvie, highlighted, “Ocean Infinity’s innovative approach and deployment of cutting-edge technology, like their substantial fleet of autonomous underwater vehicles, one of the largest in the world, have earned it a distinguished reputation in ocean exploration, marine robotics, and beyond.
“The company’s commitment to transitioning its operations toward onshore operations centers which oversee the robotic vessel-based work marks a significant step in maritime innovation. Ocean Infinity’s substantial robotic vessel fleet, including the recently commissioned 78m lean-crewed ships, underscores their ambition to lead global robotic shipping operations. Not only does Ocean Infinity’s establishment strengthen Tasmania’s maritime and technology sectors, it provides further opportunities for collaboration with our internationally renowned Australian Maritime College.”
In related news, HAV Group’s ship design business, HAV Design, recently signed a contract to design and develop four new-build, autonomous zero-emission ferries that will operate the Lavik-Oppedal crossing on the northwest Norway coast. Click here to read the full story.