On November 20, 2025, the Espírito Santo Harbor Master’s Office (Capitania dos Portos do Espírito Santo – CPES) welcomed a visit from Rear Admiral Marco Antônio Linhares Soares, Director of Hydrography and Navigation (DHN), to observe activities related to the End-of-Course Hydrographic Survey (Levantamento Hidrográfico de Fim de Curso – LHFC), the Advanced Hydrography Course for Officers (Curso de Aperfeiçoamento de Hidrografia para Oficiais – CAHO), and the Advanced Courses for the Hydrography & Navigation (HN) and Lighthouse Service (Faroleiro – FR) specialties.

During the visit, the Brazilian Navy used an Autonomous Surface Vessel (ASV), the SL40 from OceanAlpha, for the first time to carry out multibeam bathymetric surveys in the Vitória Channel (Espírito Santo).

The unmanned boat departed from the CPES pier and was monitored via specialized software installed at a station set up at CPES, enabling communication with the ASV.Equipped with multibeam surveying systems and calibrated using sound velocity profile (SVP) measurements, the ASV collected detailed hydro-oceanographic data and produced high-resolution seabed mapping.

This integrated technology enhances the safety and efficiency of operations, allowing the small-sized vessel to work in shallow or restricted waters and survey large areas more economically than traditional methods.

As a result, nautical charts can be updated and navigation safety improved in the region.

The SL40 ASV conducted multibeam surveys in Vitória.