OMS Group Acquires Second DriX O-16 Vessel From Exail to Boost Subsea Cable Survey Capacity

Why It Matters

Enhanced autonomous survey capacity reduces deployment time, emissions and risk, strengthening OMS’s competitive edge in the fast‑growing subsea cable market.

Key Takeaways

• OMS adds second DriX O‑16 USV, boosting survey fleet.
• Vessels support 30‑day missions, 3,500‑nm range for global cable projects.
• Integration with AUVs and Singapore ops centre enables multi‑vehicle coordination.
• Autonomous surveys cut emissions, improve safety, and speed installations.
• Subsea cable demand rising as cloud and data‑center traffic surge.

Pulse Analysis

The subsea cable sector is entering a period of accelerated growth as cloud providers, hyperscale data centres and 5G rollouts drive unprecedented traffic volumes. Operators are under pressure to lay new fibre routes faster and more cost‑effectively, while also ensuring environmental compliance. Autonomous surface vessels like the DriX O‑16 address these challenges by delivering high‑resolution seabed data without the crewed ship costs and emissions traditionally associated with marine surveys.

The DriX O‑16’s 30‑day endurance and 3,500‑nautical‑mile range make it ideal for remote, long‑haul cable projects across the Indo‑Pacific. Equipped with Kongsberg’s EM124 multibeam echo sounder, the USV can produce detailed bathymetric maps that inform route planning and risk mitigation. OMS Group’s strategy to pair the USVs with autonomous underwater vehicles and a Singapore‑based remote operations centre creates a coordinated, multi‑vehicle workflow that accelerates data collection, validates results in real time, and reduces the need for multiple vessel deployments.

By expanding its autonomous survey fleet, OMS positions itself as a technology‑forward player in a market where speed, safety and sustainability are decisive factors. Competitors that continue to rely on conventional survey ships may face higher operational costs and longer project timelines. As global bandwidth demand climbs, firms that can deliver rapid, low‑emission cable surveys will capture a larger share of new infrastructure contracts, shaping the next wave of submarine network expansion.

Deal Summary

Kuala Lumpur‑based OMS Group announced the purchase of a second DriX O‑16 uncrewed surface vessel from Exail, adding to its fleet for subsea cable surveys. The new USV will join the first vessel acquired last year and support global cable installation, route verification, and monitoring projects. The deal expands OMS’s autonomous survey capabilities for telecom infrastructure.