Posted on October 13, 2025
Exploring new solutions in shallow-water UXO intervention and clearance
The legacy of WWII has left thousands of unexploded ordnance (UXO), including mines, scattered across the bottom of our oceans. This UXO now poses significant challenges to offshore windfarm construction – to safely and efficiently clear UXO, especially in the shallow-water environments where visibility is low, currents are strong, and traditional ROV access is no longer possible.
This week at the Global Underwater Hub UXO conference, we were proud to introduce an exciting new direction for our Hi-Traq trenching vehicle – a modular, four-track platform, designed for enhanced terrain climbing capability. With its autonomous levelling system, it delivers the stability needed to support safe and efficient UXO intervention and clearance in dynamic shallow-water conditions.
By adapting our Hi-Traq with interchangeable survey and recovery tools, we’re exploring how to reduce reliance on human divers while improving operational safety and precision. Thank you to our colleagues Scott Mabin CEng MIMechE and Hubert van Strien for introducing this technology and our collaborative efforts with global partners to accelerate UXO clearance solutions.
If you would like to know more about these solutions and how we can support your next project, please contact Scott Mabin CEng MIMechE – S.Mabin@royalihc.com.
