Hawboldt selected by University of Gothenburg for new containerized AUV LARS system

Hawboldt is excited to announce that we have been selected by the University of Gothenburg to supply a containerized AUV Launch and Recovery System (LARS) for their very important Antarctic mission! The H-6200 AUV LARS will launch and recover Gothenburg’s Hugin AUV (named Ran by University of Gothenburg Oceanographer Anna Wåhlin), which provides the team with critical data for studying melting Antarctic ice shelves.

Of particular focus to the research effort is data collected beneath the Thwaites ice shelf, a dangerously unstable part of the West Antarctic ice sheet that is as large as Great Britain. The AUV is packed with 19 sensors that will measure ocean temperature, salinity, and velocity to reveal how much warm water is reaching Thwaites and how much meltwater is seeping out. Additionally, sonar on the AUV will provide scientists and geophysicists with detailed views of both the seafloor and underside of the ice shelf.

Hawboldt’s line of AUV Launch and Recovery Systems are the world’s lightest, strongest, and smartest. Designed and built to DNV’s offshore lifting standard, the Hawboldt AUV LARS is designed for cold conditions, and higher sea states then any of our competitors (up to and including Sea State 5). Additionally, our newly developed constant tension winch system provides even smoother recovery in rough seas, while our wired and wireless control options allow for excellent views of the vehicle during these critical operations. Hawboldt understands how vulnerable an AUV can be during launch and recovery, and our proven design is more than up to the challenge.

This latest AUV LARS order builds on a long line of deliveries and the overall evolution of the Hawboldt system. Most recently, Hawboldt provided multiple units for Ocean Infinity’s 6,000m depth Hugins, for their high profile salvage missions around the world.