PROVEN AUSSIE MARITIME AUTONOMY CUTS DIESEL USE BY 94% AND OPERATING COSTS BY UP TO 75%: SHOWCASED AT WORKBOAT SHOW
Announcement posted by Greenroom Robotics 03 Dec 2025
Greenroom Robotics Chief Technology Officer Zac Pullen and EGS Survey Australia Chief Surveyor Charles Collins signing the Strategic Partnership Agreement at EGS' Remote Operations Centre in Fremantle, Western Australia.
As workboat operators worldwide look for safer, more efficient ways to deliver offshore projects, Greenroom Robotics and EGS Survey have formed a new Strategic Partnership to advance uncrewed and hybrid-autonomous capabilities across the sector. Under the agreement, all future Fremantle-class uncrewed surface vessels will be equipped with Greenroom's GAMA maritime autonomy system, combining EGS's hydrographic expertise with a field-tested platform already delivering major gains in endurance, fuel efficiency and survey precision.
Greenroom Robotics' maritime autonomy has proven commercial performance, not only from the 42-day autonomous mission of USV Fremantle 01, but also from hybrid-autonomy deployments with other partners on workboats such as the Tenggara Explorer. These real-world operations show how GAMA can transform existing vessels by delivering Dynamic Positioning (DP) like control through software alone, significantly reducing fuel consumption, lowering operating costs and improving safety for crews working in demanding marine environments.
Tenggara Explorer
EGS's USV Fremantle 01 recently completed a full HydroScheme Industry Partnership Program (HIPP) survey using GAMA as its core autonomy platform. Deployed 60 miles east of Esperance, Western Australia for a 42-day mission, the vessel delivered strong endurance, precise survey performance and significant operational efficiencies.
USV Fremantle 01 achieved:
- A successful 42-day autonomous mission in harsh conditions including swells up to 17-foot and winds above 30 knots
- Consistent survey-line keeping, COLREGs compliant manoeuvring and advanced predictive control
- A 94% reduction in diesel use compared to a traditional vessel undertaking the same task
- Running costs up to 75% lower than traditional crewed survey operations.
This performance demonstrated the value of pairing GAMA autonomy with EGS's extensive survey expertise and has informed the framework of the new partnership.
Charles Collins, Chief Surveyor at EGS Survey said GAMA had already proven its value in the field. "Our goal with the Fremantle-class USVs is to deliver safe, efficient and high-quality survey outcomes for our clients. Greenroom's GAMA system has been central to achieving that vision. Formalising this partnership is a natural next step and ensures every future vessel benefits from a deeply integrated and continuously improving autonomy solution."
Peter Baker, Director of Growth, Greenroom Robotics, speaking at Workboat Show said the partnership comes at a time of increasing global demand for efficient uncrewed hydrography. "Only around a quarter of the world's ocean floor has been mapped to modern standards, so uncrewed systems like the Fremantle-class are essential for scaling survey coverage safely and efficiently.
"EGS Survey has been a trusted collaborator from day one, and the success of USV Fremantle 01 shows what happens when world-class hydrography meets advanced maritime autonomy software."
As well as being deployed on new builds, Greenroom Robotics' GAMA autonomy software can also be retrofitted to vessels, allowing owners to gain the benefits of autonomy immediately, without going fully uncrewed. Rather than replacing people, this hybrid model enhances them. Modern offshore operations rely on precise vessel control, particularly in ROV (remotely operated vehicle) and AUV (autonomous underwater vehicle) deployment, pipeline inspection and nearshore survey. Dynamic Positioning (DP) vessels provide this precision but require specialist operators, extensive crews and they are expensive to run, burning large amounts of fuel.
GAMA's Dynamic Predictive Control (DPC) provides a smarter, more efficient alternative. By automating the coordination between helm and thrusters i.e. the "split-stick steering" once done by hand, GAMA achieves DP-like precision without the DP price tag, reducing estimated day rates by up to 80%.
A successful example of hybrid autonomy in workboat operations can be seen on the Tenggara Explorer, a 110-foot multipurpose survey vessel operating in Australian waters. Recently retrofitted with GAMA, the vessel now performs advanced autonomous functions, that previously would have required a DP ship many times its size and cost. The autonomy core continuously predicts vessel motion under wind, wave, and current, adjusting thrusters proactively to stay stable.
The result is a safer, leaner and far more economical way to operate at sea. For the crew onboard, this means less time fighting the helm and more time focusing on project success and safety. As Greenroom's Peter Baker explains, "By delivering Dynamic Predictive Control through software, GAMA lets operators use smaller, more efficient vessels for projects that once required a full DP ship."
For images to accompany this release please see: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1RWzAtDmCp3NowYqa2WmanwZ-lZltiXyd
Media contact: media@houseofkitch.com.au
About EGS Survey Australia
EGS Survey is a leading Australian hydrographic survey company delivering high-quality hydrographic, geophysical and metocean data acquisition, processing and reporting to clients worldwide. EGS specialises in delivering innovative and efficient solutions for marine mapping and seabed characterisation.
About Greenroom Robotics
Greenroom Robotics is an Australian-owned, veteran-led technology company building world-leading software for maritime autonomy, navigation, and remote operations. From dynamic control to AI-powered situational awareness, Greenroom's mission is to modernise maritime operations for safe, clean, and protected oceans.
About Tenggara
The Tenggara Explorer, located in Fremantle, Western Australia, is available for BIMCO Bare Boat Charter arrangement or available with crew for assignments throughout Australia. This vessel offers spacious accommodation and workspaces, combined with exceptional fuel efficiency. The Tenggara Explorer is a 33.4m aluminium multipurpose vessel, built in 2007 in the SBF Australia shipyard. The vessel is equipped with all the necessary amenities to cater for most survey and offshore work, including advanced, autonomous navigation systems.