Fugro Expands Gulf of Mexico Survey Fleet

Fugro is expanding its survey fleet in the Gulf of Mexico to include a new AUV, Echo Surveyor VII, and a new vessel, R/V Fugro Americas.

Fugro Expands Gulf of Mexico Survey Fleet
Echo Surveyor

“Both these impending launches indicate our strong capabilities and commitment to our clients in the GOM and internationally,” says Melissa Jeansonne, Vice President, Fugro GeoServices, Inc. “Both the Fugro Americas and Echo Surveyor VII will join the current fleet later in the year. We already operate three AUVs in the GoM – one Hugin (Echo Surveyor II), and two Bluefin (Echo Mapper); and our new multi-purpose Fugro Americas vessel enables us to have three vessels capable of operating AUVs in the Americas.

Echo Surveyor VII

AUVs are the ultimate choice of instrument platform for deep sea and remote surveys. As well as providing improved multibeam swath coverage, The Echo Surveyor VII will support the acquisition of sidescan sonar, sub-bottom profiler and CTD profiler data, and will carry various environmental sensors to meet a wide range of offshore survey demands.

With its tight turning circles that greatly reduce the time between survey lines, it will offer clients a wide range of features including an increase in depth rating to 4500 meters. Being fully airfreight portable, Echo Surveyor VII will also allow rapid mobilization.

R/V Fugro Americas

R/V Fugro Americas
R/V Fugro Americas

The Fugro Americas is a state-of-the-art multi-purpose vessel well suited for high resolution geophysical surveys and seafloor mapping.

“We are extremely proud of the Fugro Americas and look forward to her arrival in service,” says Jim Grady, Asset Manager, Fugro GeoServices, Inc. “At 193 feet she is bigger and faster than our current vessels in the GoM, has more berths as part of our purpose-built design, and is both quiet and fuel efficient. SOLAS classed, she is capable of undertaking seismic, conventional, AUV and geotechnical surveys thus providing the advantage of just one mobilization that can meet every client’s needs.”

Press Release, May 22, 2014; Image: Fugro/Shipspotting