Fugro expands fleet in Gulf of Mexico

May 21, 2014
Fugro is expanding its survey fleet in the Gulf of Mexico to include a new AUV, Echo Surveyor VII, and a new vessel, R/V Fugro Americas.

Offshore staff

LAFAYETTE, Louisiana –Fugro is expanding its survey fleet in the Gulf of Mexico to include a new AUV, Echo Surveyor VII, and a new vessel, R/V Fugro Americas.

“Both these impending launches indicate our strong capabilities and commitment to our clients in the Gulf of Mexico and internationally,” said Melissa Jeansonne, vice president of Fugro GeoServices Inc. “Both theFugro Americas and Echo Surveyor VII will join the current fleet later in the year. We already operate three AUVs in the Gulf of Mexico – one Hugin (Echo Surveyor II), and two Bluefin (Echo Mapper); and our new multi-purpose Fugro Americas vessel enables us to have three vessels capable of operating AUVs in the Americas.”

AUVs are the ultimate choice of instrument platform for deepsea and remote surveys. As well as providing improved multibeam swath coverage, theEcho Surveyor VII will support the acquisition of sidescan sonar, sub-bottom profiler and CTD profiler data, and will carry various environmental sensors to meet a wide range of offshore survey demands.

With its tight turning circles that greatly reduce the time between survey lines, it will offer clients a wide range of features including an increase in depth rating to 4,500 m (14,764 ft). Being fully airfreight portable,Echo Surveyor VII will also allow rapid mobilization.

TheFugro Americas is a multi-purpose vessel well suited for high-resolution geophysical surveys and seafloor mapping.

“We are extremely proud of the Fugro Americas and look forward to her arrival in service,” said Jim Grady, asset manager, Fugro GeoServices Inc. “At 193 ft (59 m), she is bigger and faster than our current vessels in the Gulf of Mexico, has more berths as part of our purpose-built design, and is both quiet and fuel efficient. SOLAS classed, she is capable of undertaking seismic, conventional, AUV, and geotechnical surveys, thus providing the advantage of just one mobilization that can meet every client’s needs.”

05/21/2014