ERCS and Force55 Form Strategic Partnership for Integrated UAV and Offshore Network Solutions

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Press Release

June 6, 2025

ERCS international and Force55 announce strategic partnership to deliver integrated onshore and offshore Survey intelligence and safety technology

ERCS International, a leading provider of marine and aerial survey consultancy, and Force55 Ltd, a UK-based innovator in remote monitoring and communication technology, today announced a strategic partnership to deliver real-time, data-driven solutions for both onshore and offshore environments.

By integrating ERCS’s high-precision advanced survey services with Force55’s real-time safety, tracking, and communication platforms, the partnership will provide infrastructure developers, operators, and EPCs with a single-source solution that improves decision-making across the full project lifecycle — from pre-construction surveys and planning to active operations, compliance, and maintenance.

Bridging the Gap Between Data Capture and Decision

The collaboration aligns two critical phases of infrastructure development:

  • ERCS International delivers onshore and offshore survey consultancy, including UAV based geophysical and topographic surveys, UAV-based inspections, and technical data interpretation across sectors such as offshore wind, oil & gas, coastal construction, and renewables.
  • Force55 provides advanced tracking, communication, and control technologies, such as the MarineStream® RF mesh network, WatchTower® situational monitoring suite, and vessel/personnel tracking systems, used by clients to enable 24/7 oversight of critical operations both at sea and on land.

Together, they will create a unified operating environment in which data collected by ERCS — from turbine blade inspections to comprehensive nearshore geophysical & UXO surveys— is instantly transmitted to project teams, HSE officers, and site managers, regardless of location.

From Field to Command Center

The integrated solution enables:

  • Live UAV and marine survey data to be relayed via Force55’s MarineStream® network to remote or shore-based command centers.
  • Safety zone enforcement, powered by WatchTower®, using real-time overlays of inspection zones, vessel movements, and exclusion areas.
  • Full visibility across land-sea interfaces, helping operators manage coastal assets, cable landfalls, or construction staging areas as seamlessly as offshore installations.

Executive Commentary

“We are proud to collaborate with Force55 in delivering a truly end-to-end solution. Our clients need fast, reliable data — whether it’s for nearshore cable routing, turbine inspection, or environmental reporting. This partnership gives them immediate access to the insights they need, no matter where the work is happening.”

– Edward Rich, CEO of ERCS International

“What we’re building together is a real-time operational intelligence layer that spans onshore staging, coastal works, and offshore installations. Integrating ERCS’s aerial and marine data and UAV capabilities into our systems gives clients a richer, more actionable view of every operation — from port to platform.”

– Patrick Bell, CEO of Force55 Ltd

Use Case Examples

  • Onshore: Topographic surveys for substations or cable landfalls – Live integration into WatchTower for planning and permitting.
  • Nearshore: Seabed scanning & pre-installation surveys – Real-time data streaming to design and engineering teams.
  • Offshore: UAV inspections of turbines or platforms – Video & sensor data synced with live vessel tracking.
  • Coastal Construction: Bridge, harbour, and jetty works – Combined safety zone enforcement and geotechnical monitoring.

Commercial Rollout

The partnership will launch with a pilot deployment at a UK-based renewable energy site this year, with full integration of ERCS survey streams into Force55’s platform ecosystem. The companies will also explore joint R&D for autonomous inspection workflows and AI-based operational alerts.

Notes to editors

About ERCS International ERCS International is a specialist survey consultancy operating across marine and aerial domains. It provides geophysical, topographic, and UAV inspection services that support planning, construction, and compliance efforts for energy and infrastructure clients globally. About Force55 Ltd Force55 is a technology company delivering advanced communication, tracking, and operational monitoring solutions for the offshore and coastal infrastructure sectors. Its platforms enable clients to operate more safely, more efficiently, and with real-time awareness — both onshore and offshore.

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