Kongsberg Maritime, Seadrill, and Hanwha Drilling Forge Alliance to Pioneer Remote Dynamic Positioning

Seadrill, Kongsberg Maritime, and Hanwha Drilling announced a strategic alliance on March 4, 2026 to develop the next generation of remote Dynamic Positioning technology for offshore drilling — a collaboration that aims to define a global operating model for the future of DP operations across the maritime industry. The initiative will develop the technical and regulatory foundations required for safe adoption of remote DP and establish a new industry standard. What remote DP changes: Dynamic positioning systems are critical for maintaining precise location of offshore drilling units without anchors, particularly during deepwater operations. Remote DP capabilities would allow operators to manage positioning systems from centralized control centres while maintaining safety oversight offshore — fundamentally changing how crews manage one of the most cognitively demanding tasks on drilling rigs. By combining Kongsberg Maritime's automation and communications technologies with the operational expertise of two major drilling contractors, the partnership targets centralized, repeatable processes that reduce cognitive load on rig crews and improve decision-making. Industry leadership signals: Seadrill's Director of Rig Innovation Johnathan Dady stated that remote DP "fundamentally changes how our crews manage dynamic positioning" and enables rig teams to focus on maintaining safe, high-performance operations. Kongsberg Maritime's Eivind Alling described the alliance as creating "an intelligent operational architecture that uses automation to enhance safety, reduce risk, and sharpen vessel performance" — positioning remote DP not as simple control transfer but as a comprehensive system redesign. Hanwha Drilling CTO Scott McKaig emphasized the investment targets next-generation smart automated DP systems supporting resilient, centralized operations that reduce deepwater operating costs worldwide. Strategic implications: This alliance extends Kongsberg Maritime's reach beyond its recent Digital Ocean platform consolidation into operational automation territory. For ship managers and offshore operators, the remote DP development signals that centralized onshore monitoring and control is moving from concept to practical implementation — with regulatory frameworks and industry standards being developed alongside the technology rather than after deployment. [Kongsberg Maritime / MarineLink / Offshore Energy]

This story is part of the Maritime AI Digest of 8 March 2026.