Saipem’s underwater drone wraps up another autonomous mission

February 9, 2026, by Nadja Skopljak

Saipem’s first resident underwater intervention drone (UID) has performed another autonomous mission as part of a ten-year contract signed in 2019 with Equinor, said to be the first global service agreement for underwater drones in the offshore energy sector.

Hydrone-R performed the autonomous survey mission over the Arctic coral area of Njord, Norway, independently, without cables or surface support.

As part of the deal with Equinor, the drone is tasked with carrying out inspections and interventions on underwater assets, providing information on potential hazards, with the aim of improving the overall integrity and safety of the oil & gas giant’s subsea systems.

Saipem’s underwater drone hits milestone with six-month-long uninterrupted operations

Innovation

According to Saipem, Hydrone-R has accumulated over 500 days of subsea residency, including remotely operated missions, achieving a world record of 240 days of continuous stay on the seabed since the start of operations.

At the end of 2025, the drone enabled the commissioning activities on a Njord well despite wave heights reaching 12.5 meters, conditions in which no traditional work-class remotely operated vehicle (ROV) could operate, the company said.