The zero-emission, battery electric REAV-28 will initially support ESI’s REDRESS project, focusing on ecosystem restoration and environmental monitoring in coastal and offshore waters. The versatile platform will be equipped with an advanced sensor array to monitor critical water quality parameters, including temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity.
David Hull, Founder & CEO of HydroSurv, commented: “ESI’s selection of the REAV-28 further validates the platform’s versatility and utility for uncrewed environmental monitoring. It’s a delight to be working with ESI’s expert team, who have established an impressive track record in EU research projects, and we’re looking forward to watching their progress following the delivery of ‘ERV 1’ in January 2025.”
ESI plans a series of enhancements to the platform’s mission planning capabilities through custom software development and the integration of advanced autonomous navigation features. The company views this vessel acquisition as the first step toward building a specialist fleet of autonomous vessels for scientific research and industrial applications.
Elias Chatzidouros, Technical Director of ESI, commented: “Our acquisition of the REAV-28 represents a major milestone in our commitment to deploying innovative technologies for environmental monitoring in the Eastern Mediterranean. This versatile USV will significantly enhance our ability to gather high-resolution data to support ecosystem restoration and climate resilience EU projects like REDRESS. Furthermore, it aligns perfectly with our broader strategy to build a fleet of autonomous platforms that deliver value across research, conservation, and industrial applications. We look forward to working closely with HydroSurv and utilizing their extensive expertise to fully realize the potential of this innovative platform.”
To ensure ESI can fully leverage the USV’s advanced capabilities across its diverse commercial applications, HydroSurv will provide a comprehensive training and support package as part of the system handover scheduled for January. This sale marks another milestone in HydroSurv’s commitment to delivering accessible uncrewed vessel technology that reduces the environmental footprint of ocean data collection.
