Customer: Guardian Geomatics

Project: SunCable’s AAPowerLink

Duration: 21 months

Location: Darwin (Australia), Indonesia and Singapore

Project overview

STR’s innovative geophysical equipment and world class technical support were required to support our customer with its bid for SunCable’s flagship development project, Australia-Asia Power Link (AAPowerLink), helping to overcome the complexities of subsea surveys and working across multiple continents.

As one of the most ambitious renewable energy generation and transmission projects in Australia, AAPowerLink is particularly high profile. Not only does it involve the creation of the world’s largest solar farm, it also requires the longest undersea cable and the largest battery in the world at 36 to 42 gigawatt-hours. On completion, this project will be the world’s biggest integrated renewable energy and battery storage facility.

A 4,200km DC power cable will run from the Powell Creek Solar Precinct in Darwin, through the territory of Indonesia and into Singapore. As a result, this large scale solar project aims to provide as much as 15% of Singapore’s electricity needs, offering the country a degree of energy independence from Malaysia where it currently has to purchase gas to fuel traditional power generation.

Our solution

Guardian Geomatics has been a key customer for STR since we first expanded to Australia in 2018. This meant we were involved in project discussions right from its initial bid which focused on traditional towed/vessel-mounted sensors as an alternative to AUV surveys.

The project required a significant amount of STR’s geophysical equipment across two phases of work when conducting site investigations for the power cable route survey. The first phase was from Darwin to the border of Australia and Indonesia, while the second phase was through Indonesian territory and eventually to Singapore. Initially, this involved one vessel, however,  multiple other vessels were later utilised.

Specialist geophysical equipment

Our team in the Asia Pacific region has gained extensive experience in the intricacies of operating in deep water, which meant we could confidently advise on the best technology before providing a suite of specialist geophysical products that integrated with Guardian Geomatics’ own equipment. To effectively study the route we supplied the following:

• A 6000m hydraulic winch, converted from previous ROV umbilical use
• Brand new Edgetech 2050 systems
• Deep-water Multibeam Echosounder

We provided the majority of the geophysical products. Guardian Geomatics supplied all of its own PCs and navigation equipment.

Challenges faced

With multiple countries involved in the project, there were several complexities to address, including;

• Imports and exports
• Permitting issues
• Challenges of working in deep water

Commencement of the project in Indonesia was particularly challenging, as this was a unique job with very little precedent set when it came to applying for work permits. Also, due to the nature of the work area, the equipment came into contact with a significant amount of fishing gear near the seabed and in the water column, which was important for the team to navigate.

Unrivalled technical support and expertise

Requiring assistance with logistics to enable the products to arrive at the mobilisation location efficiently as well as additional technical support, we onboarded a full-time STR Field Engineer to ensure the best chance of success and uptime for the equipment on the job.

As part of the project and through the expertise of our engineer, we were able to technically review some of the equipment choices and suggest minor adjustments to optimise performance. Additionally, we were responsible for overseeing the conversion of the ex-ROV umbilical winch to ensure it would be compatible with our Sidescan Sonar technology. This involved some mechanical upgrades and the addition of a remote control system with associated testing.

Project success

Thanks to our global capabilities and STR offices in both Australia and Singapore, we are well equipped to support the project in both continents under one single team and supply products from one single source, further ensuring efficiency and reliability due to our unrivalled young and advanced fleet.

The standout success was the ability to utilise our STR engineer on the vessel, who was able to quickly resolve technical issues onboard by liaising with our extensive onshore support network. This highlights the world-class offering of equipment and technical support STR has to offer, even in some of the largest projects.

“STR was crucial to this project’s success.  The initial capital investment required to obtain this mission-critical sensor technology in time for this project would have been prohibitive.


Tapping into STR’s pool of equipment enabled Guardian Geomatics to get this project started to meet SunCable’s requirements, and having STR personnel involved in the ongoing maintenance of the sensory technology, allowed our staff to do what they do best, acquire quality geophysical data in a variety water depths and conditions. When we were required to increase the number of vessels in the field again, we could tap into the STR equipment pool.”

– Steve Duffield, Director – Guardian Geomatics

This article was recently featured in the prestigious OGV Magazine – Australia edition, detailing STR’s work and expertise in supporting countries like Australia to tap into their energy potential, smartly and efficiently.

Few countries can boast a wealth of natural resources comparable to Australia. Among the world’s largest exporters of minerals and raw materials, the nation is also home to bountiful energy supplies, both traditional and renewable, which make it one of the industry’s most exciting markets. 

With this comes ambitious energy targets – Australia is aiming for 82% renewable electricity generation by 2030 on the path to net zero emissions by 2050. Delivering on these objectives will require major renewable projects and vast offshore wind initiatives that will hinge on the rollout of smarter, safer and more cost-effective subsea technologies. 

Meeting this demand head on, STR delivers innovative marine sensor systems and technical expertise that is helping to shape the future of Australia’s flourishing offshore energy sector. 

With large custom designed Technology and Service bases in Perth and Singapore, we are perfectly positioned to support complex offshore projects across Asia-Pacific. 

Well-known for our established extensive rental fleet and service offering, STR is increasingly recognised for our work as a developer of advanced subsea technologies. 

Our commitment to bringing integrated sensor systems – that help reduce vessel time, lower project costs and allow for real-time decision making in some of the world’s most challenging environments – to market has yielded technologies such as SeaCast and ROVMUX, two groundbreaking solutions that redefine how ocean data is collected and managed.

Profiling the ocean without pausing the mission

Traditional methods of sound velocity profiling require survey vessels to stop, deploy equipment, wait for data collection and then recover the sensor equipment before resuming operations. This interrupts workflow, inaccurate data and extends project timelines, something STR’s SeaCast system has been designed to counteract. 

By eliminating the need for stopping and starting, SeaCast enables surveyors to gather accurate sound velocity profile data while the vessel remains in motion, generating significant time savings – typically more than four hours per day.

It is engineered for real-time streaming of sensor data, allowing operators to make informed decisions there and then. Moreover, its compact design makes it easily mobilised on a range of platforms, from conventional survey vessels to the growing number of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) that are now being deployed in Australian waters. 

Underpinned by smart software architecture that allows for fully remote operation, SeaCast can be fully deployed and recovered in under ten minutes, reach depths of over 300 metres while underway at four knots and 200 metres at six knots. 

For those operating off one of the world’s largest islands, SeaCast gives surveyors the autonomy, reliability and speed essential to traverse Australia’s large marine zones and dispersed offshore projects.

Smarter subsea integration for smarter ROVs

Remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) are the backbone of offshore inspection, maintenance and construction. But for too long integrating multiple sensors onto a single ROV has been a challenge that’s required complex cabling, heavy and fragile enclosures, lengthy setup times, and catastrophic product failure due to flooding.

STR’s ROVMUX system was developed in direct collaboration with Tier 1 clients to solve these problems. The result is a high-performance, compact interface that simplifies sensor integration while delivering maximum flexibility and reliability.

Despite its small footprint, ROVMUX supports up to 20 sensors – an industry-leading capacity for its size. It is also compatible with a wide range of connections, including Gigabit Ethernet, RS232, RS485, and both 24V and 48V power options, which can be switched as required. 

Built for the harsh conditions of deepwater operations, the system is depth-rated to 6,000 metres and includes robust sealing and connector systems that significantly reduce the risk of flooding or failure. 

For operators, this means fewer breakdowns, faster turnaround times, and a reduced need for on-site maintenance. ROVMUX also includes intelligent power management features such as monitored DC outputs with smart fusing and soft-start control for capacitive loads.

At the surface, an intuitive 12-inch touchscreen controller allows operators to monitor and manage system performance easily, with advanced diagnostics that support proactive troubleshooting and real-time configuration, empowering operators to do more with less, and supplied at a lower cost.

Meeting the moment and building the momentum 

Australia’s offshore market is moving quickly, with declared wind zones in Victoria progressing, feasibility studies underway in Western Australia and New South Wales, and investment in subsea mining, carbon capture, oil and gas decommissioning and intercontinental energy transmission rising.

Operators in these sectors require technologies that support real-time data collection, autonomous operations, low-maintenance design and reliable performance in remote and often harsh conditions. STR meets all these requirements with our equipment, as well as our deep domain knowledge, engineering excellence and global network that ensures clients are supported at every phase of their operations.

Whether it’s enabling faster geophysical surveys with SeaCast or expanding the capabilities of subsea vehicles with ROVMUX, STR is helping Australia’s offshore operators do more, for less. Irrelevant of geographies, the global energy transition demands mission-ready solutions that redefine what’s possible offshore – and that’s just what we deliver.

STR has officially launched a Technology and Service hub in Norway, investing £5m in a state-of-the-art facility to strengthen our presence in one of the world’s most important offshore hubs. But an investment is only as strong as the people driving it forward, and leading this new custom-built facility is Oskar Tveit, our newly appointed General Manager.

With a wealth of experience in the subsea industry, Oskar understands what it takes to deliver cutting-edge solutions in a fast-moving market. 

He commented: “I started my career as a marine engineer, progressing through offshore and subsea roles before moving into leadership positions. Over the years, I’ve worked on vessel conversions, project management and offshore operations. 

“My experience spans hands-on engineering to strategic business growth as I grew in the roles I was in, and this has offered me valuable insights and experience from the client perspective. One thing I’ve always been passionate about is looking at the bigger opportunities.” 

For Oskar, this role is about more than just leading a new facility – it’s about shaping the future of STR in Norway by utilising his industry knowledge, skills and strong network of connections accumulated over the years, as well as attracting the next generation of engineers within the sector and nurturing the existing talent at STR, providing them with opportunities to thrive in their career. 

“As General Manager for STR’s new Norway facility, it’s important to foster a good working environment through clear communication and a straightforward, honest approach” he said. 

“I strongly believe that encouraging our employees to gain hands-on experience in a supportive environment will ultimately allow them to become the best version of themselves and have a positive impact on business growth overall.”

With Norway being a major player in the subsea industry due to its established history in oil and gas, Oskar believes that the launch of STR’s new facility is a strategic move, providing further opportunities in renewable energy projects and marine research in the broader Scandinavian market, unlocking significant growth potential and expansion.

Over the next few years, a key focus for Oskar will be tapping into these industries while also reinforcing STR’s sensor capabilities and tooling range, including the development of in-house products that have already garnered client interest.  

Oskar’s overall vision for STR in Norway can be linked back to the region’s rich subsea heritage. Located in Haugesund, he aims to leverage the local talent and historical reputation to establish STR as a leading supplier of survey sensors and world class offshore equipment, building on a legacy of technical expertise that defines this part of Norway. 

Commenting on this, Oskar added: “Despite being a small area, Haugesund and the surrounding region have an incredibly high concentration of subsea expertise. The region is home to an unparalleled volume of subsea professionals and companies, making it arguably the most competent subsea hub relative to its population size. 

“I’m excited to lead STR in such a highly skilled region – and to help shape a new chapter of global growth, innovation and excellence from right here in Norway.”

Interested to find out more about our best in class services and get in touch with our Norway team? Speak directly to an STR specialist here.

STR, a leading provider of advanced sensor technology and solutions for marine applications, has strengthened its global technology and service offering by signing an exclusive technology and service partnership with SubC Imaging, an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of subsea cameras, digital video recorder products and data-as-a-service provider.

The agreement is in response to increasing industry demand for enhanced optical solutions and real-time inspection data of critical infrastructure across the oil & gas, offshore wind, marine science, power & comms and defence markets. 

The new technology and service offering will be managed through STR’s global network. It will combine STR’s in-house camera systems, cathodic protection (CP), flooded member detection (FMD) equipment and inspection service offering with SubC Imaging’s leading camera systems, digital video recording (DVR) products, lights and lasers, and real time data streaming service.

The partnership will provide clients with complementary state-of-the-art product and inspection service offering for use on manned and unmanned platforms and vessels.

Steve Steele, STR CEO, said: “This is a significant partnership for us as part of our commitment is to provide clients with the very best sensor, inspection and data solutions through technology and service quality.  This collaboration enables us to direct opportunities toward one another, where appropriate, and focus on the best optical and inspection solutions for our clients.  We look forward to building a strong working relationship with Chad and his world-class team.”

Chad Collett, SubC Imaging CEO, said: “This partnership reflects SubC Imaging’s commitment to making advanced optical and data solutions more accessible to the global offshore market. STR’s rental expertise and strong international presence align perfectly with our goal of delivering flexible, high-quality technology that helps clients improve efficiency and data quality in the field.”