K4 Manta completes deep qualification diving in Norwegian Trench
Skerry's autonomous underwater vehicle has completed depth qualification to 3,000 metres, clearing it for commercial deployment from the fourth quarter.
Skerry Marine Systems has completed depth qualification of the K4 Manta autonomous underwater vehicle, diving to 4,500 metres in the Norwegian Trench — 1.5 times the vehicle's rated operating depth of 3,000 metres.
The programme ran across eleven dives over three weeks in July, testing pressure housings, rim-driven thrusters and terrain-aided navigation without surface positioning fixes. All eleven dives completed without intervention.
Launched and recovered without a crew
The K4 Manta is designed to be launched and recovered from the moon pool of Skerry's K3 Scout autonomous surface vessel, removing the crewed support vessel from subsea survey work entirely. Recovery was demonstrated in sea state 4 during the trials.
“Under ice or under a wind farm, the hard problem is the same: knowing where you are when nothing above you will tell you. These dives were about proving the navigation holds when we take every external reference away.”
Dr Priya Raman, Director of Autonomy, Skerry Marine Systems
Commercial availability
The K4 Manta enters commercial service in the fourth quarter of 2026, with initial deployments contracted for pipeline inspection in the North Sea and hydrographic survey off West Africa.
About Skerry Marine Systems
Skerry Marine Systems designs and builds autonomous surface and subsea vessels for offshore energy, hydrographic survey and maritime security. Founded in Southampton in 2017 by a team from naval architecture and marine robotics, the company has delivered more than 40,000 hours of uncrewed operations across the North Sea, Mediterranean and West Africa. Its platforms include the K3 Scout autonomous surface vessel and the K4 Manta autonomous underwater vehicle, both operated through Helm, Skerry's autonomy and fleet operations software. The company employs 210 people across facilities in Southampton and Aberdeen, and holds Lloyd's Register type approval for uncrewed surface operations.