EIB boosts sustainable development of geo-data experts Fugro

• EIB provides €150 million to offshore surveying specialist Fugro to support development and deployment of its uncrewed surface vessel (USV) technology.
• Fugro’s use of USVs will reduce fuel consumption and limit greenhouse emissions while widening the company’s capabilities for marine monitoring and geo-surveying.
• Financing helps to accelerate the green transition, as Fugro’s services are a prerequisite for the construction of offshore wind farms, subsea interconnectors, and European power grids.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a €150 million lending agreement with Fugro, a Dutch geo-data company that surveys and monitors the seabed and offshore infrastructure, providing critical data for the construction of offshore wind farms, and the integrity of subsea cables and other maritime assets. The facility will support the phased expansion of Fugro’s remote operations capabilities, notably through the deployment of a higher-performing second-generation fleet of USVs. It will also support the company’s research and development for new technologies, including advanced remote sensing and underwater robotics, thereby reinforcing European technological capabilities in the monitoring of critical offshore infrastructure.

The financing enables the deployment of up to 25 new medium sized, long-range, remotely operated, USVs, used to survey the seabed, conduct technical studies, assess prospective offshore sites and monitor offshore assets. Combined with underwater robots, they enable Fugro to transmit subsea data to remote operating centres in real time.

Fugro provides the data and expertise that underpin major offshore investments, from wind farms to subsea cables,” said EIB Vice-President Robert de Groot. “By supporting the deployment of advanced digital maritime technologies, this financing helps accelerate Europe’s energy transition while strengthening the company’s leadership in a strategic sector.”

“The EIB’s support is a strong endorsement of Fugro’s leading position in the digitalisation and transformation of the maritime survey industry,” said Mark Heine, CEO of Fugro. “Uncrewed surface vessels and remote operations are an important part of our long-term strategy –enhancing safety, reducing carbon emissions and improving operational efficiency. This long-term financing facility gives us the flexibility to deploy these technologies in a disciplined and phased manner, aligned with market developments.”

Compared with traditional survey vessels, Fugro’s USVs cut fuel consumption by up to 90%, substantially lowering greenhouse-gas emissions and reducing the need for offshore personnel. Furthermore, the operation helps accelerate the green transition in Europe, as Fugro’s services are essential for the development and the construction of offshore wind farms, subsea interconnectors, and European power grids.

Background Information:

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. The Netherlands owns a 5,2% share of the EIB. It makes long-term finance available for sound investment in order to contribute towards EU policy goals and national priorities. More than 90% of its activity is in Europe. Over the years, the EIB has made available more than €36 billion in financing for Dutch projects in various sectors including social infrastructure, research & development, sustainable mobility, drinking water, healthcare and SMEs.

InvestEU brings together under one roof the many EU financial instruments to support a sustainable economy and mobilise private investment for the European Union’s strategic priorities, such as resilience, green and secure energy, competitiveness, and SME support. InvestEU makes financing in Europe simpler, more efficient, and more flexible. The InvestEU Fund, part of the InvestEU programme, is deployed through implementing partners, which invest in projects using an EU budget guarantee of €29.1 billion to increase their risk-bearing capacity. As a result, including further to-ups, the programme targets expects to mobilise at least €427 billion in additional investment. InvestEU exceeded its original target of €372 billion in the beginning of 2026.

Fugro is a Netherlands-headquartered global leader in high technology geo-data services, providing site characterisation and asset integrity solutions for critical infrastructure, offshore energy, renewables, water and subsea assets. Founded in 1962, the Company has evolved from a Dutch soil mechanics bureau into the world’s leading geo-data specialist, supported by specialised marine assets, proprietary technology and an expanding remote and uncrewed vessel platform. Fugro operates in 52 countries and employs over 10,000 people.