Page 44: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Jul/Aug 2025)

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PRODUCTS DRILLING RIG & EQUIPMENT INNOVATION

SBM OFFSHORE/AMBIPAR

New Robotic Solution for FPSO Tank Cleaning Kongsberg Maritime, Noble Corporation Join

Forces for Ofshore Drilling Innovation

Ambipar and SBM Offshore announced a solution for cleaning cargo oil tanks on (FPSOs), a solution that im- Kongsberg Maritime and Noble Corporation have portantly is geared to completely remove humans from formed a strategic alliance for the co-development of ad- entering tanks during cleaning activities. vanced marine technologies for the offshore drilling sector.

Traditionally, cleaning these tanks involves signif- The companies signed a development program frame- cant health and safety risks for workers, who operate in work agreement, focused on the joint development, pilot- restricted spaces under high temperatures and in contact ing, and commercialization of innovative solutions aimed with chemical residues. he new approach, resulting from at enhancing operational effciency, risk assessment, and collaboration between the two companies, will implement sustainability in offshore operations. technology to use remotely operated robots to carry out The frst pilot project under this agreement will be the process in a safe way, dramatically reducing confned launched later in 2025 on the drillship Noble Sam Croft, space risks and potential casualties. setting the stage for a series of collaborative development

The technology has already been successfully applied to programs.

an FPSO in offshore operation. The robot removed heavy The agreement brings together Kongsberg Maritime’s oily sludge, while the onboard team (POB) monitored the marine technology portfolio with Noble’s deep operational process remotely, 24-hours a day, from a safe location out- expertise and modern feet of 21 foaters. This synergy is ex- side the tank. pected to accelerate innovation cycles and deliver user-cen-

In addition to enhanced safety, the solution is said to tric solutions that unlock new value for offshore operators.

reduce costs and timeframes involved in the cleaning “By working closely with forward-thinking companies process. like Noble, we can co-create technologies that not only improve performance and safety but also support the in- 44 OFFSHORE ENGINEER OEDIGITAL.COM