Zero USV to Launch World’s First High Endurance Open Ocean Autonomous Vessel Fleet – Oceanus12

Autonomous vessel experts and artificial intelligence (AI) pioneers behind the first full-size unmanned research vessel to conduct scientific experiments whilst autonomously navigating across the Atlantic Ocean have announced their plans to launch the world’s first fully autonomous uncrewed surface vessel (USV) fleet for long term lease or charter.

The owners behind the company, Zero USV, a collaboration between the founders of Marine AI and MSubs, aim to have the first vessels fully tested and available by September 2024.

With a twin-electric drive for optimum redundancy, and a hybrid powertrain for resilience and efficiency, coupled with Marine AI’s GuardianAI autonomy software stack, Oceanus12 is a 12 metre, fully autonomous ‘turnkey’ package ready to sail.

The company’s founder, Matthew Ratsey, says it is designed from the ground up specifically for over the horizon autonomous operations and will allow increased efficiency whilst offering payload flexibility, and reducing risk and human error, especially in harsh or hard to reach environments.

Utilising a suite of world-class marine sensors, including the internationally reputed W-band Navtech Radar, which forms a key part of a combination of sensor data streams feeding into Marine AI’s GuardianAI autonomy software for real time processing and analysis, and ultimately COLREG compliant vessel control and navigation.

Oceanus12 has been specifically designed as a versatile platform, with a very wide range of potential applications from surveys and monitoring of critical assets to safety. These include, for instance, geophysical surveying and mapping, offshore oil & gas exploration, renewables exploration and maintenance, through to border control, fisheries science, and defence.

The build of the USVs is to be completed by Dorset-based Manor Marine, an OEG Group company, prior to electronics, sensors, and software installation. Manor Marine has an established reputation in aluminium vessel construction spanning more than 30 years.

Says Matthew Ratsey, who is the managing director of Zero USV:

“We believe that we are in a unique position, with our company backgrounds and experience, to bring together the technologies required to offer clients an “off the shelf” autonomous vessel, whilst also being able to offer customisation where necessary for specific jobs or clients. There has long been a requirement for proper “over the horizon” capable USVs to fulfil a whole host of roles, but pulling the relevant technologies together has been extremely difficult for vessel operators. Zero USV solves that.

“We now have the world’s first solution to the problem, by not only offering a state of the art 12m over the horizon USV as a charter vessel, but also with the full back up and maintenance support to ensure 24/7 operations with minimal downtime. With safety and economy uppermost, the vessel will be available for charter or long term lease for myriad offshore tasks which would otherwise require human presence, with the associated risks, and on water crew costs. Oceanus12 promises to deliver client users with significantly greater flexibility, efficiencies, and no crew costs.
 

“We’re very excited to be working with such respected marine specialist companies such as Manor Marine and Navtech Radar to deliver a world first deep ocean USV charter solution for marine
autonomy.”

Currently in production are two Oceanus12 class vessels, with a further eight planned for 2025.

Charter will be available in the UK, North America, Canada and Australia as Zero USV rolls out its USVs with global partners.

Oceanus12 Specifications:

Green Credentials

• Twin Electric Hybrid Drive giving redundancy and efficiency
• Low Fuel Consumption
• Solar charging for house and emergency loads

Customisable Design

• Adaptable payload bay
• Sensor agnostic
• Quick change keel (sensor strut) allowing preloaded sensors to be swapped in/out with minimal downtime

Full Autonomy

• GuardianAI full stack autonomy software by MarineAI installed as standard
• Fully loaded autonomous sensor suite including HD Radar from Navtech.
• Remote control option

Over the Horizon

• • Large fuel capacity for extended missions c. 2000Nm
• • Six knot cruising speed with sprint speed of 10 knots (subject to payload)

Technical specification

• Length Overall: 11.55m
• Waterline Length: 11.40m
• Max Beam: 2.33m
• Displacement: 4 tonnes
• Hull Type: Monohull
• Hull Construction: Aluminium
• Installed Power: software limited to 40Kw, available 80Kw.
• Speed: 6 knots cruising, 10 knots sprint.
• Endurance: 2000+Nautical miles
• Fuel Capacity: 1200 Litres
• Payload: up to 1 tonne
• Draft: 1.76m