HonuWorx plans series of ‘Loggerhead’ submersibles for energy sector which can cut annual emissions of 4,000 petrol or diesel cars per vessel displaced

Image: The ROV being loaded into the Loggerhead mothership during the world-first demonstration

A Scottish firm has delivered a world-first in underwater robotics as it unveils plans for a fleet of uncrewed submarines to capture the $3billion subsea services market.

In an industry first, Aberdeen-based HonuWorx has deployed an ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) from a fully autonomous and uncrewed “mothership” submarine, all controlled from shore via the cloud.

The test proves the viability of its submersible system known as “Loggerhead”, which removes the need for large fossil-fuelled surface ships to transport and deploy subsea robots such as ROVs, creating a cleaner, more cost-effective and safer deployment method to that which has been typically used in the industry for more than 40 years.

HonuWorx now plans to develop a fleet of Loggerhead submarines to capture a 20% share of the $3.2bn global market for subsea inspection, repair and maintenance across oil and gas, offshore wind and defence within the next decade.

The submersibles, which can be controlled from anywhere around the world, are all-electric and ultra-long endurance for travelling directly from port to a worksite, such as an oilfield or wind farm.

HonuWorx is now geared for rapid growth, kicking off the first phase of a £30m investment raise in the coming months, construction of the first Loggerhead commercial pilot system in 2025, and plans to treble headcount over the next 2-3 years.

Through wider expansion, by 2030 the firm plans to develop a fleet of at least 10 Loggerhead units, with a longer-term goal of having 50 of the submersibles operating around the world.

The all-electric Loggerhead harnesses advances in autonomy and satellite communications systems to save the annual emissions equivalent of 4,000 petrol or diesel cars per vessel it displaces, while greatly reducing cost and improving safety by moving crews onshore.

Underwater footage of the ROV departing the submerged mothership

During testing off Canada’s Pacific coastline in December 2023, HonuWorx deployed a Seatronics VALOR ROV from a large autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) provided by Cellula Robotics in Vancouver. The entire operation was controlled from shore, harnessing satellite communications and HonuWorx’s proprietary cloud-based software.

The project was supported by energy majors TotalEnergies and Shell alongside the Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC). Additional technology field testing has been delivered over the last 10 months including the system’s state-of-the-art communications buoy and variable autonomy architecture.

Chief Executive Lee Wilson said: “HonuWorx was created because the economics, safety and carbon emissions of subsea work could only be meaningfully improved by removing the large ships needed to deploy divers or subsea remotely operated vehicles.

Image: HonuWorx Chief Executive Oficer – Lee Wilson, Aberdeen, October 2024

“We are going to change the way the world works underwater, accelerating the energy transition, and enabling the safe and sustainable scaling of subsea robotics for a growing blue economy.”

The advances in technology readiness signals HonuWorx’s position as a world leader in “supervised autonomy” systems which will soon become common in aircraft, ships and land transport.

Launched in 2020, HonuWorx is led by an expert team with decades of experience developing and commercialising subsea robotics technology, including senior figures from industry-leading firms including ROVOP and Subsea 7.

Greg Jones, Subsea Lead for TotalEnergies E&P UK said: “TotalEnergies has a long-established interest in robotics and autonomous systems for safe operations.

“Loggerhead is an example of the next stage of subsea autonomous systems, which via our participation in NZTC, we have been keen to support. This system has the potential to support decarbonisation, improve safety and lower costs for subsea inspection and maintenance and we look forward to seeing how it develops further.”

 The test Loggerhead prototype system stationed at port in Canada.

ENDS

About HonuWorx 

HonuWorx is a remote robotics company based in Aberdeen, Scotland. It was founded in 2020 to change the way the world works subsea by reducing the cost, risk and carbon footprint of subsea operations.

It plans to treble its current 12 employees over the next 2-3 years while targeting over £30 million investment to support growth. HonuWorx is addressing a large market worth USD$3.2bn in subsea inspection, maintenance and repair.

Proof of concept demonstration of Loggerhead was carried out off the coast of Vancouver, Canada in December 2023, with further tests of communications elements at Fort William in July 2024.

Loggerhead takes its name from the oceanic turtle which is known to migrate nearly 8,000 miles to feeding grounds.

Contact:

True North Advisors – Allister Thomas

allister@truenorth.scot