Two USVs enhance Marine Environmental Services offering

Elysium EPL is spearheading Australia’s contribution to a global network of Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs), which will markedly improve accuracy in weather forecasting.

USVs – sometimes called marine drones - offer a low impact, autonomous and economical solution to monitoring, capturing and transmitting ocean and weather data, 24/7.

One of Elysium EPL's USVs in testing off the Darwin coast.

Elysium EPL’s work in this space is connecting over 50 global experts and investing in its first two dedicated vessels to support a range of industries in Australia’s northern oceans.

The result is improved real-time weather monitoring for severe weather patterns, enabling clients to better understand the environment where they operate and make accurate, real-time weather predictions. 

“Building a better understanding of our oceans is how we respond to and manage a rapidly changing climate,” said Marine Environmental Services lead and resident oceanographer Dr Ruth Patterson.

A Top End resident for 18 years, Dr Patterson has seen firsthand the impact of incomplete data collection and the domino effect for vulnerable communities that bear the brunt of extreme climate events.

“Improved data collections means we can better predict weather patterns, which in turn means we can be better prepared to respond and support impacted communities in the face of events like cyclones and major flooding.”

Adding two vessels - Monica and Tracy, named after two of the most severe cyclones to hit Australia - to its arsenal enhances Elysium EPL’s Marine Environmental Services offering, with application of the technology offering benefits across multiple industries.

The Elysium EPL Marine Environmental Services team during USV training in Darwin, pictured with USVs "Monica" and "Tracy".

“USVs are really low-cost to deploy, can operate at sea, uncrewed, for up to six months and can transmit large distances,” said Dr Patterson. “It means they have really broad application – we can utilise them to conduct complex data collection for offshore energy, enhance maritime security and protection, support surveillance for national security operations as well as planning for climate resilience in the fishing industry.”

In the same way drones have revolutionised aerial operations, USVs are revolutionising the maritime industry.

“There really is no limit to how this technology could enhance maritime operations,” Dr Patterson continued. “Elysium EPL is a small Australian professional services firm that is punching above its weight to advance this capability in Australia, and across the world, and I’m really excited to help showcase the critical role this can play in driving global responses to climate change.”

Elysium EPL’s USVs are currently in operation. To find out more, please visit the Marine Environmental Services page.