USV Bris – HydroSurv’s REAV-47 Delivering Advanced Water Profiling in Norway’s Remote Waters
HydroSurv’s REAV-47 – our innovative hybrid unmanned craft, designated USV Bris, has been featured in a comprehensive review by Baird Maritime.
Purpose-built for Nordic USV operations
USV Bris , built for Nordic USV who needed a platform capable of autonomous, multi-day sampling and observation missions from Bergen and other remote Norwegian bases while acquiring high-quality environmental and geophysical data in harsh, often ice-prone conditions.
The lightweight aluminium vessel combines a proven hull form with a 48 V hybrid-electric propulsion architecture for balanced performance, endurance, and economy.
The craft marks a significant step forward in our portfolio of electric and hybrid USVs, being the first to incorporate rim-driven propulsion, a feature that enhances both operational efficiency and resilience in challenging nearshore environments,” David Hull, HydroSurv’s Founder and CEO, told Baird Maritime.
Built for harsh environments
-
Winterisation features – a battery-module heating system safeguards charge performance in sub-zero conditions.
-
1,500 m OSIL CTD profiling winch housed in a purpose-designed compartment, managed by a rewritten proprietary control application for deep-water sampling and future subsea sensor integrations.
-
High autonomy and system reliability support multi-day missions launched from Bergen and other remote Norwegian bases.
Electric drive and long-endurance performance
-
Two counter-rotating rim-driven electric thrusters deliver precise low-speed control and reduce entanglement risk in shallow or weedy waters.
-
A 48 VDC energy system with Mastervolt MLI Ultra 6,000 Wh batteries, a 4 kW diesel generator, and a remote charging/mooring latch enables up to 72 hours of continuous operation.
-
An all-electric 24 kWh variant is available for zero-emission, short-duration tasks.
Compact design with continuous improvement
- A major structural evolution from earlier modular builds was the adoption of a one-piece hull and superstructure.
- This increased internal stiffness and usable space, reduced overall mass and preserved the vessel’s compatibility with a 20-foot container footprint.
Read the full review HERE
