Kongsberg Maritime to deliver AUV hangar and subsea docking system

Kongsberg Maritime has won a contract to provide an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) hangar and launch and recovery system for a new research vessel being built by Vard for Inkfish.

The system combines a dedicated AUV hangar with subsea docking technology, allowing Hugin AUVs to be launched, recovered and docked below the sea surface. Moving the operation beneath the wave zone is designed to reduce wave impact, improving safety and extending the operating window for research missions.

Unlike containerised systems designed for individual vehicles, the purpose-built installation will support AUV fleet operations. Kongsberg Maritime will supply the hangar integration, skidding system, vehicle logistics and an overhead crane for handling AUVs within the vessel’s moonpool and during quayside loading.

“Subsea docking represents a significant improvement in how AUV operations can be performed,” said Ingar Hovden, Senior Sales Manager, LARS Systems, Kongsberg Maritime. The system is expected to be assembled and tested at Kongsberg Maritime’s Brattvåg facility, with delivery planned for the end of 2027.

Kongsberg has been busy. On 29 September, the company signed a NOK 10 billion contract for NASAMS air-defence systems for Belgium.

“We are very pleased to welcome Belgium to the family of NASAMS nations,” said Kongsberg CEO Eirik Lie.

The previous day, Kongsberg announced a framework agreement with the US Marine Corps worth up to US$404 million for production and sustainment support for Naval Strike Missile launcher units, weapon-control systems and associated equipment. Deliveries could run through 2034.

Earlier in September, Kongsberg Maritime agreed to acquire Finnish propulsion specialist Steerprop, which supplies systems for icebreakers, polar research vessels and other demanding applications.

Steerprop CEO Riku-Pekka Hägg said the deal would ‘secure the continuation of our legacy’ while providing the company with greater scale and resources. Steerprop has an installed base of more than 400 vessels, with much of its order backlog linked to Arctic and ice-class projects.

The developments underline Kongsberg’s expanding activity across autonomous subsea technology, specialised maritime propulsion and defence systems.