The UK has moved closer to its “hybrid navy” ambition after first sea trials of a containerized system enabling autonomous underwater survey operations.
Two teams from the Royal Navy’s Hydrographic eXploitation Group deployed the Containerised Remotely Operated Towed Vehicle (C-ROTV) in Denmark, using it as a bespoke launch-and-recovery platform for the Danish-made ScanFish oceanographic survey system.
The system was transported aboard the University of Aarhus research vessel RV Aurora, with GPS and underwater positioning sensors integrated into the ship’s systems to support precise tracking and navigation.
Remote bridge displays were also installed for both the ScanFish and the C-ROTV, enabling Royal Navy personnel to manage launch, recovery, and in-water operations directly from the containerized setup.
Ahead of sea operations, the teams spent two days conducting maintenance checks and routine drills, including shore-based simulations of deployment procedures, ensuring the system was fully prepared before going to sea.
The trials culminated in an emergency ascent drill, during which an operator “flew” the autonomous underwater vehicle upwards while navigating simulated seabed obstacles.
Behind ScanFish
ScanFish can operate at depths of up to 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) and is equipped with an array of in-water sensors.
Developed by EIVA, the system features side-scan sonars, electro-optical cameras, and a sub-bottom profiler that can map structures beneath the seabed.
Its deployment via the C-ROTV enables the Royal Navy to conduct advanced survey missions without relying on large, dedicated survey vessels.
Throughout the trials, the teams pushed the system’s full sensor suite, testing performance across multiple operational scenarios and validating its end-to-end deployment chain.
