Shearwater to use electric ROVs for North Sea contract

September 8, 2026, by Nadja Skopljak

Norway’s Shearwater Geoservices has secured an ocean bottom node (OBN) survey contract in the North Sea, representing the first commercial deployment of its newly installed electric remotely operated vehicles (ROVs).

The seven-week survey will be performed by the SW Tasman with Pearl nodes, as the ROV vessel, supported by the SW Gallien as the source vessel.

According to Shearwater, the operations are expected to begin imminently after the ROV upgrade.

“The project marks a significant milestone for Shearwater with the introduction of the new systems as part of the continuous development of our subsea capabilities and integrated OBN offering to further enhance reliability and increase operational efficiency,” said Irene Waage Basili, CEO of Shearwater.

“The SW Tasman has been in strong demand since its launch as a ROV vessel early 2024, and this project both extends that momentum, and marks the first deployment of our electric ROV technology, strengthening our ability to deliver efficient and differentiated OBN solutions.”