Changing the game with Fugro Blue Essence
Fugro has won the Energy Club WA’s Game Changer award for its significant advancement to the Energy Industry through its uncrewed surface vessels.
Fugro’s Blue Essence is a USV capable of remote inspection, and hydrographical and geophysical survey operations.
Fugro director of remote operations, APAC, Paul Mulins said that the Blue Essence’s smaller size and remote operability allowed it to increase safety and reduce fuel consumption.
“Typically, the 70m crewed vessels need a crew of up to 40 people mobilising offshore to complete the same tasks the 12m remotely-operated Blue Essence now undertakes,” Mr Mullins said.
“Going offshore obviously comes with associated risks, so by removing the need for crews to mobilise offshore, we can remove those risks.”
Fugro Maali, the Blue Essence USV being used by Woodside, is operated by a crew of six people over two 12-hour shifts from Fugro’s remote operation centre in Gnangara.
The crew includes two supervisors, two pilots, and two electrical remotely operated vehicle (eROV) operators.
The small size gives it a fuel reduction of 95 per cent compared to crewed surface vessels.
Mr Mullins said that in a time of skills shortages and volatility surrounding COVID-19, the reduced need for large operating crews was a blessing.
“By having small crews of six personnel remotely operating these vehicles, we reduce the risk of COVID spreading through our workforce,” he said.
“And by having data streamed back to our offices in real time, data analysts no longer need to be on board the vessel and can make rapid decisions from anywhere in the State – even from other States in some circumstances.
“The Blue Essence USV has totally changed the way we do inspection work.”
Fugro has nine operations centres globally which operate its six Blue Essence USVs; two of which are based in Australia.
