Broads Authority deploys underwater drone to monitor UK waterways, slashing inspection costs

The Broads Authority is trialing an underwater drone to inspect lock gates and sunken vessels across its 125-mile waterway network in eastern England. The move signals a growing recognition that remotely operated vehicles can handle jobs that once required expensive dive teams.

The authority purchased a Chasing M2 Pro Max ROV for £10,881, funded entirely by a grant from National Parks England. The industrial-grade submarine drone can reach depths of 200 meters (about 650 feet) and captures 4K video, making it capable of inspecting underwater infrastructure in conditions where visibility is poor.

The first trial took place at Mutford Lock in Oulton Broad, near Lowestoft, Suffolk. Even with limited visibility, operators successfully surveyed the lock structure, according to BBC News.

Diver costs make underwater inspections prohibitively expensive

The Broads Authority faces a practical problem that many waterway managers share: routine underwater inspections require professional dive teams, and those teams are not cheap. A single survey of a lock gate or submerged structure can run into thousands of pounds when factoring in diver certifications, safety equipment, support personnel, and liability insurance.

The Chasing M2 Pro Max addresses this directly. The ROV uses eight vectored thrusters for omnidirectional movement, allowing operators to maneuver around obstacles and capture footage from multiple angles. Two external floodlights provide 8,000 lumens of illumination, which helps cut through the murky water common in the Broads system.

In a report for the authority’s navigation committee, officers noted that the drone completed survey work that would normally require a full dive team. The time savings alone are substantial, but the safety implications matter too. Officers no longer need to work near or in the water for routine assessments.

Sunken vessels are becoming a growing problem

Beyond lock gates and infrastructure, the Broads Authority sees another use case: investigating sunken vessels. Abandoned and derelict boats have become an increasing headache for waterway managers across the UK, and the Broads are no exception.

When a vessel sinks, authorities need to assess its condition, determine ownership if possible, and decide whether removal is necessary. That assessment has traditionally required divers. Now, a single operator with an ROV can gather the footage needed to make those decisions without putting anyone underwater.

The approach mirrors what fire departments and search-and-rescue teams have discovered about underwater drones for water rescue operations. The technology has matured to the point where consumer and prosumer-grade ROVs can handle tasks that once demanded specialized equipment costing tens of thousands more.

DroneXL’s Take

The Broads Authority’s £10,881 investment will likely pay for itself within the first year of operation. A single professional dive survey can easily cost £2,000 to £5,000 depending on complexity, so just a handful of avoided dives covers the hardware.

What makes this interesting is the funding source. National Parks England picking up the tab suggests this could become a template for other protected waterway systems across the UK. The Canal and River Trust manages over 2,000 miles of canals and rivers. If the Broads pilot proves successful, expect similar ROV programs to appear at other authorities within the next 12 to 18 months.

The Chasing M2 Pro Max is a solid choice for this application. It sits in the sweet spot between consumer underwater drones and full industrial systems that cost six figures. The 200-meter depth rating is overkill for the Broads, where the deepest points rarely exceed a few meters, but that headroom means the system can handle any body of water the authority might encounter.

This is exactly the kind of practical drone adoption that moves the industry forward. No flashy announcements, no venture capital hype. Just a government body identifying a real problem, finding an affordable solution, and putting it to work.

Editorial Note: This article was researched and drafted with the assistance of AI to ensure technical accuracy and archive retrieval. All insights, industry analysis, and perspectives were provided exclusively by Haye Kesteloo and our other DroneXL authors, editors, and YouTube partners to ensure the “Human-First” perspective our readers expect.

Last update on 2026-01-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API