Unmanned endurance vessel developed
An unmanned vessel featuring two moon pools for maximum sensor deployment and extended endurance missions has been developed.
Designed and manufactured by ASV, the 12.17m long C-Worker 12P prototype can be used to complete tasks such as subsea positioning, surveying and environmental monitoring without the need of a ship on station or sea-bed anchoring.
Converted from a manned craft, the prototype uses ASV’s ASView control system for direct, semi-autonomous or autonomous control.
With a weight of 14,500kg, the vessel uses two Olympic Azimuth Drives and can integrate a variety of payloads including multi-beam, USBL, CTD and ADCP.
It has a beam of 3.66m, draft of 1.17m and maximum speed of 10 knots, with the ability to operate for 20 days at 8 knots without interruption.
It will be used as a testbed as ASV looks to expand the C-Worker class of autonomous vessels and continue to develop over-the-horizon (OTH) capability.
The prototype entered service last month.
By Rebecca Jeffrey
