Nauticus Robotics, Inc. has announced its entry into a service contract with Shell plc for the provision of inspection services in the Gulf of Mexico. The contract includes the use of Nauticus’ flagship autonomous subsea robot, Aquanaut, for noncontact and contact inspections in water depths exceeding 1000m. This marks a significant milestone for the industry as it demonstrates the successful transition of Nauticus from a developer of ocean robots to a fully operational offshore services provider.

One of the key advantages of Aquanaut is its ability to perform subsea manipulation tasks on live assets without the need for an umbilical. This eliminates the requirement for a large support vessel and allows for the use of a smaller class of service vessel, which can execute multiple scopes of work simultaneously. The collaboration between Nauticus and Shell represents a novel approach to underwater operations that could lead to a step change in technology and service delivery for the offshore sector.

Nicolaus Radford, CEO of Nauticus, expressed his excitement about the project and the opportunity for long-term inspection, maintenance, and repair (IMR) services with Shell. The successful execution of this project will position Nauticus as the preferred supplier for advanced subsea work. Preparations for the project have involved the development of offshore health, safety, and environment (HSE) solutions, as well as collaboration with Shell’s marine assurance staff and robotics innovation program.

Nauticus Robotics, Inc. is a developer of ocean robots, autonomy software, and services for the marine industries. The company offers Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) and direct product sales, providing customers with data collection, analytics, and subsea manipulation capabilities to support and maintain assets while reducing operational footprint and improving safety and environmental outcomes.

Source: Nauticus Robotics, Inc.
Source: Shell plc