As global operators face the challenges of large-scale and complex subsea decommissioning, there is an identified need for optimisation in this area to secure a cost-effective and resource-efficient outcome whilst contributing to net zero targets by reducing emissions. The UK is expected to spend £21Bn on decommissioning over the next ten years.

The National Subsea Centre and PlanSea have collaborated for many years to utilise AI to optimise marine logistics. Together the two organisations will now deploy the technology and skills developed to address the needs of the subsea decommissioning sector.

The two organisations are developing a robust task-based formalisation of offshore decommissioning activities that will extend the benefits of PlanSea marine-logistics AI in this space. As a result of this, decision-makers would have the ability to simulate with a high degree of accuracy the cause-effect relationship between different strategies and KPIs of interest. The project is set to produce a robust AI tool, fast-tracked for initial trials in Q2/2025.

Jim Cargill, CEO of PlanSea said: “The AI demonstrator is aimed at addressing both standalone and collaborative campaign optimisation of current and future decommissioning. Additionally, as in marine logistics, we offer a digitalised process for users whilst at the same time enhancing visibility of operational activity.”

Prof. James Njuguna, NSC Director of Research & Innovation, added: “Our centre is uniquely positioned to address the subsea industry’s most pressing challenges. Our in-depth knowledge of marine operations offers a great opportunity to collaborate with PlanSea to provide operators with substantial savings and reduce emissions. I am confident that this collaborative project will harness our research expertise and PlanSea’s cutting-edge industrial knowledge to deliver a pioneering solution for the energy transition.”

About the National Subsea Centre   

The National Subsea Centre (NSC) is the multi-million-pound Centre of Excellence for subsea research and technology development, delivered through partnership between Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC) and Robert Gordon University (RGU), through the Aberdeen City Region Deal. The NSC is harnessing NZTC’s extensive industry network alongside the University’s academic expertise, research capability and facilities to establish a world-class research and development centre.  

At present, the NSC is focused on four core research programmes: Transparent Ocean, Integrated Energy, Net Zero Operations and Cyber-Physical Systems. Team members work collaboratively to find innovative solutions to industry challenges in an environment where positive disruptive thinking is encouraged. All research undertaken at the NSC is driven by leaders with expertise spanning the fields of data science and AI, optimisation and machine learning, digital twins and simulation, machine vision and remote sensing, techno-economic modelling, smart materials and manufacturing, robotics, renewable energy systems and decarbonisation, marine ecosystems, and sustainable environment modelling.  

For more information about the NSC, please visit www.nationalsubseacentre.com