Eelume AS adds Major Industry Players to its Ownership

Following a share issue to existing and new investors, Equinor Ventures have joined long-term supporter Kongsberg Maritime and the company founders as the new owners of Eelume AS.

Press release from Eelume

Founded in 2015 with its roots in the NTNU community in Trondheim, Eelume is a start-up company which develops and manufactures advanced underwater robotics. Kongsberg Maritime AS has been a shareholder since 2016 and continues as the majority owner, with Equinor Ventures AS becoming a new co-owner as a result of a new share issue.

Entering a New Phase

The share issue enables Eelume to continue investing in offshore oil and gas, as well as developing its autonomous solution for the sustainable management of the ocean space for new markets such as offshore wind and aquaculture.

“With competent and world-leading partners such as Kongsberg Maritime and Equinor, the future for Eelume will be both demanding, exciting and educational,” says general manager Morten Bjerkholt, Eelume AS.

Ocean Space Technology

The patented robotic technology developed by Eelume is versatile, suiting a wide range of applications. The name Eelume is a play on words, compounding the English terms 'eel' and 'illuminate' to aptly describe the snake-like robot, which can move underwater over long distances, at great depths and enter cramped installations to perform inspection tasks.

“Sustainable development of the ocean space needs smart technology like this. Underwater maritime operations often require large surface vessels, but with the help of Eelume, the need for such support can be reduced. We are proud of what the seven employees in Eelume have achieved so far and look forward to the future,” says Eelume's chairman Arne Rinnan, Kongsberg Maritime.

“Equinor Ventures invests in technologies that can improve operations and be implemented into Equinor’s activities. Start-ups get to test their technology with a demanding customer which will accelerate the development of the technology. I am looking forward to Eelume’s deployment at the Åsgard field enabling further implementation elsewhere in Equinor’s operations,” says head of EV Gareth Burns.

Eelume at the Cinema

This autumn, an Eelume robot will join the cast of the new Norwegian blockbuster movie “The North Sea”, which premiered on October 29. This will grant the opportunity for many more people than just ocean space engineers to see some of the great features of this innovative underwater robot.

Contact information:

Morten Bjerkholt – CEO, Eelume AS
morten.bjerkholt@eelume.com
phone 0047 90 55 94 17