Unique Group, the Sharjah headquartered subsea engineering and technology company, has been selected as the specialised technology provider for DEEP’s subsea human habitat initiative, an international programme focused on enabling safe, long duration underwater living for scientific research.
The partnership highlights how subsea engineering expertise developed in the UAE over the past three decades is now contributing to major global advances in ocean science and marine technology, said Unique Group.
Established in the UAE and now operating across more than 18 global locations, Unique Group has built its reputation on multidisciplinary engineering rooted in the Middle East. Its portfolio spans commercial diving and life support systems, autonomous and remotely operated survey vessels, custom subsea engineering, buoyancy and load testing solutions, lifting and mooring technologies, and survey and inspection equipment. The company also maintains a UAE based research and development team that works closely with regional government entities, universities, and marine research centres to develop technologies aligned with national and international ocean exploration priorities.
DEEP’s long-term programme aims to create viable subsea living environments for scientists, with its pilot habitat, Vanguard, currently under construction in Sebastian, Florida. A larger system, Sentinel, is planned to follow, enabling operations at depths of up to 200 metres for periods of a week or more.
Unique Group is providing design, engineering, and project management across several of Vanguard’s core systems. This includes the foundation design and geotechnical survey management, supported by metocean studies and cyclone survivability assessments to ensure resilience under Category 5 hurricane conditions. Using Computational Fluid Dynamics CFD modelling, the company analysed hydrodynamic forces to optimise stability under extreme ocean conditions.
A 300-tonne foundation base plate, the primary structural element of Vanguard, is currently being fabricated in Louisiana, USA, based on Unique Group’s engineering specifications. The company has also designed the mooring spread for the surface support buoy, developed the habitat’s fluids and gas management systems, and overseen the full interior layout and installation, including ergonomics, fixtures, and functional design, it said.
“Our collaboration with DEEP is a proud milestone for the UAE,” said Sahil Gandhi, CEO of Unique Group. “The engineering challenges of this habitat represent an opportunity to demonstrate the technical capability that has grown out of the region and now contributes to global scientific progress.”
Norman Smith, Chief Technology Officer at DEEP, added: “Unique Group’s expertise in subsea engineering has been central to advancing Vanguard. Their work reflects a level of capability that is essential to the future of underwater habitation and research.”
Once operational, Vanguard is expected to support four crew members for missions of seven days or longer, providing a platform for marine science, conservation work, and technology trials. It is also set to become the first subsea habitat to receive DNV classification, highlighting the project’s emphasis on safety and long-term sustainability, and marking another example of UAE grown engineering contributing to globally significant scientific infrastructure. -TradeArabia News Service
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