Commercial AUV Partnership for UK Market
Bluefin Robotics Corporation has announced an exclusive UK distribution agreement with Global Marine Systems, an independent marine engineering company. Under the agreement Global Marine Systems will sell and service Bluefin AUVs as well as train and certify personnel for operation. The agreement highlights the emergence of AUVs as a cost effective and capable tool for use in all types of subsea engineering projects.
Spun off in 1997 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology AUV Laboratory in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Bluefin Robotics is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Battelle Memorial Institute. Bluefin's track record of developing and fielding AUVs has led to dramatic gains in capability, performance, and applicability allowing for a rapid expansion of commercial applications for the technology.
"We are thrilled to be working with Global Marine Systems to deliver and operate AUVs to a variety of commercial users in the UK" said David Kelly, President of Bluefin Robotics. "Bluefin AUVs are capable of reaching the sea floor almost anywhere in the world and robust enough to be deployed in extreme conditions. Global Marine and their customers have significant expertise in operating in these exact locations, which makes this agreement the ideal partnership."
AUV sales, service and training will be managed at Global Marine Systems within the Subsea Services Group. Headquartered in Portland, UK the Subsea Services Group manages all ROV, Survey and AUV services and training making the addition of the Bluefin products a natural extension of the division.
"AUV technology is coming of age, and are an excellent alternative for many of our customers in industries such as Oil & Gas, Telecommunications, Offshore Power, Waterway security and Academic research." said John Davies, Manager, Subsea Service Group, Global Marine Systems. "We see AUVs and their capabilities as very complimentary with our longstanding expertise in ROVs and Survey and our positive experience with Bluefin in particular makes us very enthusiastic about this market."
