Uncrewed vessels have set sail from Scarborough in north Yorkshire to begin a seabed survey for the Eastern Green Link 5 (EGL5) subsea cable project.
EGL5 is a joint venture between SSEN Transmission and National Grid Electricity Transmission, currently in the earliest stages of planning and consultation.
The high-voltage direct current (HVDC) subsea cable will transfer clean energy between Scotland and England, helping to power the UK’s low-carbon future.
Four uncrewed survey vessels (USVs) have been deployed to carry out the carbon-neutral seabed survey for the EGL5 project.
The USVs (pictured), which are operated remotely and equipped with cutting-edge geophysical sensors, such as multibeam echo sounders and sub-bottom profilers, are mapping the seabed to support the planning and development of EGL5.
The 4.5-metre long vessels are designed for safety and minimal disruption, operating without onboard crew and are continuously monitored from a shore-based control centre.
Due to their small size and light weight, the carbon footprint is 1000 times less than conventional vessels, while also minimising interaction with other maritime users.
The four USVs will be operating for two months along the proposed EGL5 route from the Lincolnshire coast to the Scottish border, where the collected data will be merged with similar data collected by SSEN Transmission in Scottish waters.
National Grid marine survey manager Phil Payne said: “The survey will provide essential data about the seabed, sub-seabed, potential archaeological features and marine fauna and flora to guide the safe and efficient installation of the EGL5 cable route, supporting detailed engineering, environmental assessments, and route planning.
“Launching these uncrewed survey vessels from Scarborough reflects our commitment to innovation and environmental care.
“As a responsible developer, we’re working with suppliers who offer low-carbon, low-impact survey solutions to minimise disruption to the environment.
“Every aspect of this operation is being carried out under strict safety procedures, with continuous remote monitoring in place to help protect the marine environment.”
Charlotte Beechey, head of business development for XOcean, said: “XOcean are pleased to support National Grid and SSEN Transmission on this key stage of the EGL5 cable route project.
“By using our fleet of USVs to collect high-resolution geophysical data, we can accelerate project timelines through efficient, high quality, data acquisition.
“Our fully remote operations offer a dynamic, carbon neutral and safe solution to seabed survey.”
As part of the early development of EGL5, National Grid is running a public consultation in Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire until 23 June 2025 to seek local feedback on the proposed route and landfall locations for the new subsea and underground cable.
The link forms a vital part of The Great Grid Upgrade, with National Grid investing in upgrading and reinforcing the UK’s transmission network, accelerating the shift to a more affordable, secure and independent energy infrastructure.