• The Stril Explorer vessel is equipped with an innovative high-speed Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), called the Surveyor Interceptor, developed by MMT and Reach Subsea with the aim of revolutionizing geophysical surveys. The Survey Interceptor has the innovative shape, powerful propulsion and advanced instrumentation to perform work 2–4 times faster than existing ROVs.

• The use of the Survey Interceptor will significantly increase the operational window, cut operation time, and reduce the impact on the surrounding wildlife by reducing the noise in the water column. It will also allow all surveys to be conducted from a single vessel rather than the standard two-vessel deployment required to complete the surveys in one season.

• The ROV operates close to the seafloor and therefore minimizes the attenuation of noise in the water column, reducing the impacts to surrounding wildlife. Reducing the overall time for surveying also reduces the amount of time that marine mammals are potentially exposed to acoustic impacts or vessel activity.

• Since its introduction in 2015, the Surveyor Interceptor has gradually gained a proven track record by providing improved survey data quality at a higher speed than any other survey platform. To meet all the offshore wind data needs, the Survey Interceptor will be equipped with additional sensors through the continuous research and development efforts by MMT and Reach.

• Survey operations are expected to begin late summer 2020 and continue through mid-2021. Equinor will provide continual updates on survey operations.

• Currently an offshore fisheries liaison representative (OFLR) will be on-board to mitigate any fishing conflicts that may occur, in the event Equinor is unable to provide an OFLR, a scout boat to monitor the survey area of fishing gear and activity before the surveys begins will be contracted.