Cluster Insight with Reach Subsea

It's been two years since we last interviewed Bjørg Mathisen Døving. At that time, she was leading the Reach Remote mission, to launch the first Norwegian-flagged unmanned vessels of its kind.

This week, we spoke with her again to hear how it's going at Reach Subsea.

1. What is your role in Reach Subsea?

Hello again! I am still Vice President Reach Remote and since the last time we spoke, Reach Subsea has taken delivery of the world's first uncrewed 24-meter ROV vessel, Reach Remote 1, the Winner of Ship of the Year 2024!

She has now received her sailing permissions, and soon she will demonstrate her capacity during a pilot project, supported by Equinor, TotalEnergies, Harbour Energy, The Royal Australian Navy and Gassco.

Meanwhile we are heavily progressing with commissioning of the sister vessel Reach Remote 2, which will be delivered very soon.

I have been leading the Reach Remote initiative since 2020, and our strategy is to build up a fleet of remote & autonomous vessels.

I am a Project Manager by nature, dedicated to people and what I do, and I just love challenges with a touch of rock’n’roll

2. Your primary focus at work right now is?

We have become vessel owners, and my focus right now is to establish business processes, to introduce Reach Remote into our organization and the market.

This includes leading and maintaining enthusiasm amongst all the extraordinary people who are involved in this project, both internally and with our partners.

I work to align Risk Management, Operation Models, Lessons Learned, Training, and many other aspects within Business Development, Marketing, Sales and not least Cost Control.

A successful Pilot Project is our ultimate target, and we are building up to face the biggest challenge our subsea industry has ever seen.

3. Biggest challenges and opportunities for Reach Subsea in the future?

Reach Subsea is already a success story, evolving from 4 employees in 2008 to 500 employees in 2025, all dedicated to our mission: sustainable access to ocean space.

We see Reach Remote as an opportunity, a catalyst, for Reach Subsea to continue growing around the globe. What we have accomplished through our partnership with Kongsberg, Kystdesign, Massterly and Wilhelmsen, is a possible new export opportunity for Norway.

Reach Remote is also a perfect match for the green shift, reducing GHG emissions by up to 90%, and our initiative has been granted access to EUR 14.3M from the EU Innovation Fund under the Net Zero Technologies initiative.

4. Best part of being member in a cluster?

As I have said before, I strongly believe in the value of sharing knowledge and join efforts.

Norway's leadership in subsea robotics is a powerful opportunity for all industries involved, leveraging technology for marine exploration, environmental stewardship, and economic development.

A cluster like GCE Ocean Technology is offering our industries to explore each other and align ambitions, enabling Norwegian technologies to make a stronger footprint in the competitive international market.

5. Your business/life motto

Talk to strangers and magical things will happen. Face your fears, and you will be rewarded. But most of all, be truthful. Cause we will all meet again, it’s a small world.

And if you have the surplus; be a teacher.

6. Which cluster member should we interview next?

I can’t wait to hear from Wind Catching, who just received 1.2 BNOK from ENOVA! Maybe Mari Bjørnø?

Thank you for the insight Bjørg.