UK Backs World’s First Remotely Operated Offshore Rescue Service

The UK government has awarded Edinburgh-based company Offshore Survival Systems with funding to develop a first of its kind remotely operated offshore search and rescue service.

The service involves using a network of semi-autonomous unmanned rescue vessels (URVs) for search and rescue at sea and will be aimed primarily at supporting UK workers in the offshore energy industry, including offshore wind.

Offshore Survival Systems is also one of the twelve UK companies the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP) awarded with a total of GBP 1.3 million (around EUR 1.5 million) in funding and business improvement support back in February.

Now, the project is one of 38 business-led robotics and automation projects receiving GBP 7 million (around EUR 8 million) of government investment.

The funding forms part of the government’s commitment to invest in ground-breaking research and raise economy-wide investment in research and development to 2.4 per cent by 2027.

“From a first of its kind automated rescue service for UK offshore energy workers, to drone technology delivering for our NHS, these robotics technologies could be game changing as part of our continued efforts to tackle global challenges – from pandemic preparedness to climate change – all while cementing the UK’s status as a science superpower”, said UK Science Minister Amanda Solloway.