UTEC, a brand in Acteon’s Geo-services business line, has successfully completed a record-breaking deepwater trial off the coast of Western Australia. Its upgraded Gavia autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) reached a depth of 940 m, the deepest commercial dive of its kind in the region.
The six-day campaign, conducted from 17 to 22 March 2025, took place northwest of Rottnest Island onboard Bhagwan Marine’s Ada Clara, with support from Unique Group’s Kongsberg MicroPap USBL system. The trial focused on testing of the newly developed next-generation Gavia control module, part of Acteon’s ongoing investment in subsea innovation and workforce training in Australia.
On 20 and 21 March, the AUV completed two deep dives, aided by the integration of the Kongsberg CNode Gavia nose cone module for USBL-aided navigation. This allowed the vehicle to remain subsea with regular positional updates. During the trials, the AUV successfully navigated a 50-m-high seabed ridge, allowing the upgraded obstacle avoidance sonar to be tested under real-world conditions.
The new generation control module significantly enhanced system reliability and data quality. Combined with the the new EdgeTech 2205 side scan sonar the AUV captured high-resolution imagery of complex seabed features, demonstrating its capability for accurate seabed mapping in challenging environments, which is critical for future commercial survey missions.
Rod Farrawell, AUV Supervisor at UTEC, commented: “Successfully completing two deepwater mission dives demonstrated the operational efficiency of our Gavia system, showcasing its collision avoidance capabilities and potential for extended missions of up to 12 hours with new battery modules. The addition of a new control module has significantly improved the vehicle’s reliability, while also delivering much higher quality side scan sonar (SSS) data.”
Key highlights:
- Achieved record depth of 940 m
- Successfully tested new control and INS/DVL modules
- Validated real-time obstacle avoidance in complex terrain
- Enhanced local subsea capability through team training
This non-client-commissioned trial was designed to familiarize the team with the upgraded system and confirm operational readiness. With its modular design and low logistical footprint, the Gavia AUV offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional survey spreads and larger remotely operated vehicles. It also enables parallel operations, allowing survey work to continue alongside other onboard activities.
This milestone marks a significant advancement in Acteon’s subsea capabilities across Australia, reinforcing its commitment to delivering innovative, efficient, and scalable offshore survey solutions.
