addressed by developments such as un- costs, and reducing direct human in- uptake and investment before posing a manned launch and recovery systems, volvement in activities in high risk en- signi? cant substitution risk for surface hybrid vehicles and docking stations vironments. Douglas-Westwood expects vessels and ROVs. However, 2014 is ex-for in-water charging and improved further increases in AUV use in deep pected to represent the ? rst year of sig-through-water data transmission. waters and under-ice as an alternative ni? cant growth which should allow the The increased economic challenges of to ROVs. AUVs are still considered an technology to be the industry eyes in the deepwater oil & gas developments lead emerging technology and require more deepest waters.to a desire to introduce cost-effective approaches. AUVs have proved to be an optimum cost-effective solution for surveys and inspections, as opposed to the higher costs of vessel-based activi-ties. Factors include operation and time The AuthorEduardo Ribeiro (MSc), Researcher and author of the DW’s World AUV Market Forecast 2014-2018, has been involved in high level projects and advisory work for oil? eld service companies and the public sector, undertaking market mod-elling and analysis; specialising in off-shore deepwater market E&P activities. The ReportDW’s 5th edition of the AUV Market Forecast covers all key commercial themes relevant to players across the value chain in all AUV sectors: • Technology review – description of current technology and ongoing devel-opments; • Competitive landscape – for manu-facturers and operators, including their main activities; • Key drivers – identi? cation and dis-cussion of key underlying drivers and their in? uence on the global AUV market by sector; Regional forecasts – analysis of AUV • de¬mand development from 2014 to 2018; Sector forecasts – demand for AUV • units segmented by commercial, mili-tary & research sectors, including re-cent activities and drivers for each ac-tivity and region. www.douglas-westwood.com/shop/shop-infopage.php?longref=1326#.U0_lj? dWrIwww.seadiscovery.comMarine Technology Reporter27 MTR #4 (18-33).indd 27 MTR #4 (18-33).indd 27 5/12/2014 10:50:30 AM5/12/2014 10:50:30 AM