DroneQ Robotics gets exclusive rights to use 2014-built research vessel

April 2, 2026, by Nadja Skopljak

Dutch advanced unmanned robotics services provider DroneQ Robotics has received exclusive rights to deploy Mark Offshore’s research and survey vessel for its own and third-party projects.

This comes as Dutch Mark Offshore signed an agreement with Lithuania’s Klaipėda University to handle the management and operations of the catamaran research vessel Mintis for offshore renewables, marine survey and nearshore energy projects.

DroneQ Robotics will deploy the Mintis as an ROV support and survey vessel, offering the platform as a combination of vessel, ROV equipment and services, and drone equipment and services.

John Troch, Co-founder of DroneQ Robotics and Director Marine Services: “The partnership with Mark Offshore and this vessel is a big leap forward in the growth of DroneQ Robotics in general, and our Advanced Unmanned Robotics Services, AURS, proposition for the offshore market in particular! The market is beginning to realize that Big, Bigger, Biggest is not always the best solution.”

Built in 2014, the 40-meter DP1 subsea support vessel has supported a range of offshore activities, including ROV, AUV and USV operations, subsea equipment deployment, diving and shallow water operations, and hydrographic and geophysical surveys.

The vessel will feature new ROV systems on board, including the X-SV, OCROV Class I system (2026) rated for a 350-meter working depth, and the Argus Rover, OCROV Class II system (2025) with WCROV capabilities rated for a 1,000-meter working depth.

In addition, Mintis will be equipped with industrial maritime inspection drones, designed to take off and land on vessels at open sea, for offshore wind turbine and offshore oil & gas installation aerial inspections.