MFE Offshore has announced a partnership with Swiss underwater robotics company Hydromea to distribute the Hydromea EXRAY underwater inspection remotely operated vehicle (ROV) across the energy, industrial, hydropower, marine infrastructure, and climate science sectors. Announced on July 9, 2026, the agreement expands MFE Offshore's subsea inspection portfolio, introduced earlier this year by its parent company, MFE Inspection Solutions.
The partnership brings Hydromea's tetherless underwater inspection technology to a broader customer base, offering an alternative to conventional diver-based inspections, large support vessels, and tethered ROV operations.
According to Hydromea, the EXRAY system is designed to reduce the operational challenges associated with underwater inspections. Traditional onshore inspections often require dewatering, extended equipment downtime, and personnel entry into confined spaces, increasing both cost and operational risk. The company stated that EXRAY enables faster collection of visual inspection data and ultrasonic thickness measurements compared to conventional inspection methods.
The EXRAY functions as a communications relay for a companion tetherless inspection drone. Using Hydromea's proprietary underwater wireless communication technology, operators can maintain real-time control while receiving live high-definition video without relying on a physical tether. The ROV also features six-degree-of-freedom control and rim-driven thrusters designed to minimize the risk of entanglement when operating inside ballast tanks, riser systems, and other complex underwater structures.
The companies stated that the EXRAY platform is class-ready and has already been deployed in inspection programs conducted under DNV and ABS through certified service partners.
“As underwater inspections become more demanding, operators need access to technologies that can safely and efficiently gather data in environments that are often hard to reach,” said Wendy Post, general manager of MFE Offshore. “Hydromea has developed a unique approach to complex structures and confined spaces, and we’re excited to bring that capability to our customers.”
“Hydromea developed the EXRAY robot to take underwater inspections to a new professional level in complex environments while making piloting easier,” said Igor Martin, chief executive of Hydromea. “MFE Offshore understands the operational realities that inspection teams face every day, making it an ideal partner as we bring the class-ready EXRAY robot to more operators across the energy industry.”
As part of the partnership, MFE Offshore will host a Demo Day on July 16 at its Houston offshore facility, where attendees will have the opportunity to observe live EXRAY demonstrations and interact with technical specialists. The event is free to attend, with registration encouraged due to limited capacity.
MFE Inspection Solutions provides NDT, remote visual inspection (RVI), environmental, and UAV technologies across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Middle East, representing equipment from manufacturers including Boston Dynamics, Flyability, DJI, Voliro, Teledyne FLIR, and Skydio.
