OMS Group says it has advanced sea acceptance tests (SAT) for its USV Elite, a DriX O-16 uncrewed surface vessel (USV) being tested off the south of France, as the company prepares to expand long-range offshore survey operations.
The Singapore-based company said the SAT campaign is focused on vessel handling, stability, systems integration, operational controls and survey performance under offshore conditions. It reported early observations showing stable line-keeping and platform behaviour intended to support continuous offshore survey work over extended missions.
OMS said a key part of the programme is verifying a Kongsberg EM124 deepwater multibeam echosounder suite. The company said initial results indicate “robust full-swath bathymetric acquisition” aligned with requirements for full ocean-depth cable route survey operations, and that integration testing between vessel systems and survey payloads is continuing.
In its update, OMS also pointed to sustainability considerations associated with uncrewed operations, saying USVs typically use less fuel than conventional crewed survey vessels and could reduce offshore carbon emissions and operational footprint, while maintaining survey performance.
“This SAT programme represents an important milestone in proving how long-range uncrewed platforms can deliver offshore-grade deepwater survey operations for the subsea cable industry,” said Ronnie Lim, group CEO of OMS Group. He said the vessel is intended to expand the company’s full ocean-depth route survey capability, with a remote operating model intended to improve safety, efficiency and sustainability.
OMS said SAT results will inform final operational procedures and deployment planning ahead of regional mobilisation in early Q4 2026. The company added it intends to operate uncrewed systems in line with recognised international frameworks and industry guidance.
