The Sailbuoy by Offshore Sensing is a long-endurance unmanned surface vessel (USV) designed for oceanographic data collection, environmental monitoring, and other marine applications.
We offer a range of models for various application areas, including collecting environmental data, measuring meteorological parameters, advanced data communication, and more.
In our Sailbuoy configurator, you can select the sensors and parts that match your needs and submit an inquiry. Sensors include those for measuring winds, waves, water quality, and more.
The Sailbuoy uses wind power for propulsion. It can run up to 12 months with solar panels providing power for the electronics and actuators. Data communication and control are established in real time.
Sailbuoy offers a low-impact solution for ocean data collection. Powered by wind and solar, it completed over 25,000 kilometres of missions in 2024 alone—avoiding up to 4,050 tonnes of CO₂ emissions compared to conventional vessels.
Available in flexible configurations, Sailbuoy supports applications from climate research to offshore monitoring. Use the configurator to customise a model to your needs.
Navigable wind speed range (m/s)
Maximum mission duration (in months)
The Sailbuoy's average speed in knots
The Sailbuoy uses wind power for propulsion. Power for the electronics and actuators is provided by solar panels. Data communication and control is established in real-time using the Iridium satellite system through a user-friendly web interface. The technology is commercially available through Offshore Sensing AS.
From Transatlantic crossings, Faroes Island and Svalbard research to monitoring and collecting data at Cape San Blas, marine ecology research in Sweden, and more. Take a look at the Sailbuoy missions here.
The first Atlantic crossing by an unmanned surface vehicle.
The SB Met has made it across as the first ever unmanned surface vehicle to complete an Atlantic crossing.
The Nansen Center conducted this research mission. The Sailbuoy was to keep a specified distance from the ice edge (around 40 km). As the ice edge moved, the Sailbuoy's waypoint was updated to follow the ice.
Offshore Sensing conducted this mission in the summer of 2016. The mission objective of the SailBuoy was to investigate the Sailbuoy's performance as a wave buoy in summer conditions.