Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 19 February 2026 – OMS Group and EGS Australia have successfully completed cable route survey operations in Australia using EGS Australia’s Uncrewed Survey Vessel (USV) the “Fremantle 01”, demonstrating the growing role of next-generation autonomous technology in delivering safer, more efficient, and environmentally responsible subsea infrastructure projects.
The operation marks a significant milestone in the adoption of unmanned survey platforms within the subsea cable industry. The USV was deployed to perform high-precision cable route survey activities off the coast of Western Australia, without requiring onboard crew.
By utilising the Fremantle-class USV, the project achieved meaningful improvements in operational efficiency and carbon emission reduction, while maintaining the high data quality required for critical subsea cable development.
From a Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) perspective, the use of an uncrewed system significantly reduces personnel exposure to offshore operational risks. Removing the need for crew onboard enhances overall safety performance, while enabling continuous operations in challenging offshore and nearshore environments.
The deployment also supports broader sustainability objectives across the subsea infrastructure sector. The Fremantle-class USV has a 2000 nautical mile range and can remain at sea for 15 days between services, offering reduced fuel consumption, minimising marine disturbance, and supporting more efficient survey methodologies, aligning with increasing industry focus on responsible marine operations and lower-emission project delivery.
The collaboration highlights OMS Group’s continued commitment to adopting advanced technologies to improve project execution and environmental performance, while leveraging EGS Australia’s expertise in innovative marine survey solutions.
“This project reflects our commitment to embracing innovative technologies that enhance safety, efficiency, and sustainability across our subsea operations,” said Ronnie Lim, Group CEO of OMS Group. “Autonomous solutions such as this provide valuable complementary capabilities to conventional survey approaches, particularly for complex offshore environments.”
“EGS have been at the forefront of global subsea cable route surveying advances since the 1990s,” notes Charles Collins, Chief Surveyor at EGS Australia. “We are thrilled to once again be leading the way with the development of our own USV which is tailored specifically towards geophysical survey on the continental shelf. EGS’ global network of offices and facilities will allow us to have Fremantle classed USVs based strategically, internationally in each region soon. We thank OMS for this first opportunity to prove our technology and look forward to collaborating in the future”.
Both companies view autonomous and uncrewed technologies as a key component of the future subsea project ecosystem, complementing conventional vessels and expanding operational capabilities for survey and infrastructure development worldwide.
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