Russia’s USC unveils underwater robots for offshore operations

Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) has introduced underwater robotic systems for oil, gas and maritime repair operations. The systems were presented at a recent St. Petersburg conference on energy, logistics and shipbuilding technologies, according to the company’s press service.

USC officials say mobilizing a standard vessel after an accident can take 4 to 14 days under normal conditions, while a robotic complex stationed nearby could respond within a few hours. The corporation claims the approach could reduce financial losses from drilling platform downtime by up to 85%. It also expects the systems to handle roughly 80% of routine monitoring, inspection and minor repairs now carried out by human crews or vessels traveling from distant ports.

The robots can inspect ships at anchor or alongside a pier, examining the hull, propeller and rudder assembly. They flag visible damage and stream footage to a human operator in real time, giving vessel owners and repair yards an early view of potential work.

USC also presented a software platform combining navigation, hydrographic data collection, communications and AI tools. Uncrewed surface vessels for logistics and coastal surveys were on display, alongside concepts for port-water barriers and modular seismic exploration systems. USC said the exploration systems could coordinate groups of up to 1,000 devices, but did not explain how. Its stated long-term goal is serial production, with cost control guiding future designs.