Fugro has secured €150 million in Fugro EIB financing to expand its uncrewed surface vessel (USV) capabilities, including the planned deployment of up to 25 second-generation vessels for offshore surveys and remote operations.
The unsecured financing agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB), announced on 14 October 2026, will support the Dutch company’s development of remotely operated maritime survey technology and the gradual introduction of additional USVs.
According to the EIB’s official announcement, the programme covers up to 25 new medium-sized USVs designed for extended-range operations. The vessels will be used for seabed mapping, offshore site assessments, technical surveys and monitoring of marine infrastructure.
The new vessels will form part of Fugro’s second-generation USV fleet. They are intended to operate remotely, with survey information transmitted to shore-based operations centres.
The financing also covers research and development in advanced remote sensing and underwater robotics. By combining USVs with underwater robotic systems, Fugro can collect subsea information and transmit it to remote operations centres in real time.
The technology is intended to support offshore energy projects and infrastructure monitoring, including offshore wind farms, subsea interconnectors and power transmission infrastructure.
The EIB said Fugro’s USVs can reduce fuel consumption by up to 90% compared with conventional survey vessels. Their use also reduces the need to deploy personnel offshore, limiting exposure to operational risks while lowering associated greenhouse gas emissions.
The financing facility covers eligible expenditure incurred between 1 January 2025 and 31 December 2031. Individual amounts drawn under the agreement may have maturities of up to 10 years.
The unsecured loan has the same repayment priority as Fugro’s existing senior debt, providing dedicated long-term financing for its technology development and vessel deployment programme.
Alongside the new EIB agreement, Fugro has secured a two-year extension of its existing senior unsecured debt facilities, pushing their maturity to December 2031.
The existing facilities comprise a €400 million revolving credit facility and a €100 million term loan. The extension maintains the terms agreed in December 2024.
Fugro chief executive Mark Heine said the EIB financing would allow the company to introduce new technologies progressively, with investment decisions aligned with market developments.
He identified uncrewed vessels and remote operations as components of the company’s strategy to improve survey efficiency, reduce emissions and enhance offshore safety.
EIB Vice-President Robert de Groot said the financing would support the introduction of maritime technologies used to gather the geospatial data required for offshore wind developments and subsea infrastructure.
Fugro has previously demonstrated remote survey operations using its USV Blue Essence. In December 2025, the vessel completed a remotely controlled offshore survey in German waters, performing a J-tube inspection while vessel control and survey activities were managed from Aberdeen, UK.
The newly agreed financing will support further development of this operating approach, with the timing of additional USV deployments linked to the company’s phased investment plans.
