Exeter-based marine technology company HydroSurv has secured a £150,000 trade loan issued by Nighthawk Export Finance (NEF) and guaranteed by UK Export Finance (UKEF), according to the government announcement of 15 October 2026. The company said the working capital would help it fulfil export orders in Norway and Italy by bridging production costs and final customer payment.

HydroSurv, founded in 2019, makes unmanned surface vessels (USVs) — self-driving boats used for marine surveying and environmental monitoring — with electric and battery-hybrid designs intended for low to zero-emission operations. The financing is expected to support recruitment, raising its workforce from 12 to 19 highly skilled employees. The company reports more than 30 USVs deployed worldwide since its first export order in 2021 and says roughly 95% of its business now comes from international markets.

As of the announcement, the company said it expected to triple revenue within three years. Minister for Trade Anas Sarwar called HydroSurv an example of British innovation succeeding globally, while UKEF's Devon export finance manager, Martin Brooks, highlighted the flexibility of working with a non-bank lender. HydroSurv CEO David Hull said demand had grown rapidly as organisations seek more efficient and sustainable marine survey methods.