Unmanned robotics services provider DroneQ Robotics and offshore support and vessel management Mark Offshore have struck a deal on the latter’s new fleet addition ‘R/V Mintis’. Mark Offshore manages and operates the DP1 ROV Support & Survey vessel. DroneQ Robotics now has the exclusive rights to deploy the vessel for its own projects, Intertek projects, and third-party projects.  

DroneQ Robotics has made a strategic decision to deploy the Mintis as ROV Support & Survey Vessel, offering the platform as a combination of vessel, ROV equipment and services, and drone equipment and services. Mark Offshore and DroneQ Robotics have already collaborated for many years, and have built a strong relationship based on mutual trust.

Mark Offshore, specialized in maritime consultancy, vessel brokerage & management, and subsea support services, has recently taken a new step by handling the management and operations of the multi-functional research and survey vessel R/V Mintis for its owners, Klaipėda University from Lithuania.

New ROV systems on board:

• The powerful X-SV, OCROV Class I ROV system (2026) rated for 350m working depth with 4K inspection camera, 4K electronic pan-tilt 220° hemispheric panoramic camera, 4.5 knots speed, DVL, built-in adjustable Obstacle Detection & Avoidance system, USBL, imaging sonar, Side Scan Sonar, UT and CP probes, underwater cavitation cleaning system, water sampling system and a 2-function gripper system.
• The advanced Argus Rover, OCROV Class II ROV system (2025) with WCROV capabilities rated for 1000m working depth, advanced station keeping system with Sonardyne SPRINT-NAV INS + DVL, USBL, subsea 3D imaging capabilities powered by Voyis Discovery Stereo with VSLAM technology, imaging sonar, UT, CP and FMD NDT probes, onboard High Pressure and Flexiclean underwater cleaning systems, and a HydroLek 5600 manipulator skid (50 kgs lifting capacity at full reach). The 3D system comes with a luxurious 20ft Control Room/Workshop DNV certified Offshore container and a 10ft Winch DNV certified Offshore Container.

In addition, R/V Mintis will be equipped with industrial Maritime Inspection Drones, designed to take-off and land on vessels at open sea, for Offshore Wind turbine and Offshore Oil & Gas installation aerial inspections.

John Troch, Co-founder of DroneQ Robotics and Director Marine Services: “The partnership with Mark Offshore and this vessel is a big leap forward in the growth of DroneQ Robotics in general, and our Advanced Unmanned Robotics Services, AURS, proposition for the offshore market in particular! The market is beginning to realize that Big, Bigger, Biggest is not always the best solution.”

R/V Mintis

R/V Mintis is a DP1 vessel with a long track record in combining operational and cost efficiency in shallow and deep waters. It has the capability to conduct a wide variety of AURS services for the Ports, Offshore Oil & Gas, Offshore Wind and Salvage markets. DroneQ Robotics will deploy the vessel for projects such as subsea inspection and construction work with ROV’s, and magnetic crawler robots, offshore drone inspection, salvage support and survey tasks. It is often deployed for bathymetric surveys, UXO campaigns, pipeline and cable sub bottom surveys and ecological oceanographic research.

John Troch adds: “We truly believe that our strong partnership with Mark Offshore, which draws on both our fields of expertise, will add value to our existing and new customers, and our partner Intertek. With the R/V Mintis we now operate a cutting-edge, fully outfitted vessel, both as to offshore inspection equipment and expert personnel.”

Mark van der Star, Managing Director Mark Offshore, adds: “Due to our long-standing relationship with John, and our shared drive to deliver results, our cooperation already translated into a concrete project in the very first week of our commercial management of R/V Mintis. This underlines our commitment: when shipowners partner with Mark Offshore, we don’t just manage vessels, we actively turn them into revenue-generating assets from day one. To see that becoming reality with R/V Mintis is something we’re really proud of.”