Manor Marine wins contract for two more Zero USVs

Having built the first and second in the series, Manor Marine is cementing its partnership with Zero USV with the build of numbers three and four, it says.

They will be built at Manor Marine’s facility in Portland, in the south of England with delivery scheduled for later this year.

The vessels have a 2,500nm range, says Manor Marine Operations director Tom O’Neill, who says the contract showcases the future of autonomous marine operations.

“Just as importantly, this contract is a vote of confidence in UK shipbuilding, proving that we have the talent, facilities and expertise to deliver next-generation vessels right here at home.”

The vessels use GuardianAI software by Marine AI, with an autonomous sensor suite including HD Radar by Navtech. The vessels have a 6kn cruising speed with sprint speed of 10 knots, subject to payload. They have a fuel capacity of 1,200 litres.

Zero USV, which is a collaboration between Marine AI and MSubs, designed the Oceanus 12 vessel to be fully autonomously able to navigate across the Atlantic Ocean on its own, with a twin drive for optimum redundancy and a hybrid powertrain for resilience and efficiency.

It has a range of potential applications, from surveys and monitoring to oil and gas and renewables exploration and maintenance as well as fisheries science and defence.