Kongsberg Discovery is doubling down on its mission to decode the ocean’s secrets, snapping up three electromagnetic sensing technologies from the Argeo bankruptcy estate. The move is a bold play to fill gaps in underwater data collection, particularly in complex environments where traditional acoustic sensors fall short.
The acquisition—Argeo’s Whisper, Listen, and Scope—brings active and passive electromagnetic sensing into Kongsberg’s arsenal. Whisper and Listen are set to sharpen the company’s ability to detect and interpret underwater environments, while Scope will beef up Blue Insight, Kongsberg’s digital platform for ocean data analytics and visualisation.
This isn’t just about adding tools to the toolbox. It’s about filling critical gaps in underwater sensing. Electromagnetic sensors can cut through noise and turbidity where sonar struggles, offering a clearer picture of the seabed, subsea infrastructure, and even buried objects. For industries like offshore energy, subsea mining, and deep-sea research, this means more reliable data for decision-making.
President Martin Wien Fjell frames it as a strategic leap: “The technologies, named Argeo Whisper and Argeo Listen, expand our sensor portfolio with active and passive electromagnetic sensing capabilities, strengthening our ability to detect and interpret complex underwater environments. In addition, the Argeo Scope will enhance our Blue Insight analytics platform, providing a comprehensive solution for automated dataflow and ocean data visualisation.”
The move also brings a team of skilled personnel, ensuring Kongsberg can integrate and scale these technologies effectively. This isn’t just an asset grab—it’s a talent infusion, blending Argeo’s expertise with Kongsberg’s existing capabilities.
But what does this mean for the industry? Electromagnetic sensing has long been the understudy to sonar, but its potential is undeniable. By integrating these tools into Blue Insight, Kongsberg is betting that the future of underwater data lies in hybrid sensing—combining electromagnetic and acoustic data for a more complete picture. This could redefine how we map the seabed, monitor subsea infrastructure, and even locate buried resources.
The real test will be in the execution. Can Kongsberg seamlessly integrate these technologies into its existing workflows? Will the industry embrace electromagnetic sensing as a standard tool? And perhaps most importantly, will this push other players to invest in similar capabilities?
One thing is clear: Kongsberg isn’t waiting for the future of underwater sensing—it’s building it. And with this acquisition, it’s sending a clear message to the industry: the next wave of ocean data is electromagnetic.