Autonomous workboat research platform

The boat has been built to the desired specifications of UiT (Arctic University of Norway), after an extensive tendering process, and has been taken over by the University after successful sea trials.

This boat is set-up specifically for the University researchers’ needs for a boat to perform their research in autonomous shipping.

In addition to the spacious driver and control cabin, that has room for the full research crew, the boat is equipped with well-organized working decks. The cabin protects the researchers against the surrounding environment, enhances comfort and provides ideal work conditions for the users. The specially designed mast is made to hold all the sensor and camera equipment used by the University during the research missions.

Gudmund Johansen, Lecturer in navigation and maritime polar operations at UiT is delighted with the boat, stating that; “After the sea trials we have had, I have to highlight the boat’s performance at sea, manoeuvrability and wave performance. I have operated many vessels in my career, and what I have experienced here so far is some of the best performance I have ever seen in this class”.

By Jake Frith