Maritime Technology Briefing: Shearwater Debuts Electric ROV in North Sea While Pacifico Files $1bn Korea Offshore Wind Declaration

## Shearwater Takes Electric ROV Technology to Commercial Service Norwegian seismic services company Shearwater GeoServices has marked a significant operational milestone by deploying its newly installed electric ROV systems on a commercial ocean bottom node (OBN) campaign for the first time. According to Splash247, the Bergen-based firm is conducting a seven-week survey in the North Sea aboard the SW Tasman, putting its proprietary electric ROV technology through its commercial paces. The move reflects a broader industry push toward electrification of subsea survey equipment, with operators seeking to reduce emissions, lower operational costs, and improve reliability compared with conventional hydraulic ROV systems. For Shearwater, one of the leading independent seismic acquisition companies globally, the transition to electric ROV technology on OBN campaigns represents a meaningful step in modernising its survey fleet and differentiating its service offering in a competitive market. OBN surveys, which place individual sensor nodes directly on the seabed rather than towing streamers, have grown in popularity for complex reservoir imaging tasks, particularly in areas with dense infrastructure such as the North Sea. The integration of electric ROVs into this workflow is expected to enhance node handling efficiency and operational uptime. --- ## Pacifico Energy Files $1bn+ Investment Declaration for Korean Offshore Wind In the offshore wind sector, US energy infrastructure developer Pacifico Energy has filed a formal investment declaration exceeding $1bn with South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, covering two offshore wind projects with a combined planned capacity of 2.79 GW, Splash247 reports. The declaration encompasses the 990 MW Manho project and the 1.8 GW Jeju-based development, signalling a substantial long-term commitment to South Korea's rapidly expanding offshore wind market. South Korea has set ambitious renewable energy targets, with offshore wind identified as a cornerstone of its energy transition strategy, and international developers have been moving aggressively to secure positions in the market. A formal investment declaration of this scale carries regulatory and procedural significance in South Korea, serving as a prerequisite for advancing project permitting and grid connection processes. For Pacifico Energy, the filing underscores its strategic focus on the Asia-Pacific region and positions the company among the larger foreign investors in Korean offshore wind to date. The combined 2.79 GW capacity, if fully realised, would represent a material contribution to South Korea's offshore wind pipeline, which analysts expect to require substantial investment in port infrastructure, installation vessels, and supply chain development over the coming decade. --- *Sources: Splash247*