ZeroUSV receives autonomous vessel certification at Seawork

The company was awarded an MCA Workboat Code Edition 3 (WB3) class certificate for its 12-metre Oceanus12 uncrewed surface vessel (USV), following a certification process led by maritime assurance body Mecal in conjunction with ZeroUSV and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s coding department.

The certification confirms the Oceanus12 class meets safety, operational and technical requirements under the UK MCA’s Workboat Code Edition 3, including the framework developed for remotely operated and unmanned vessels.

WB3 includes Annex 2, which establishes certification requirements for remotely operated unmanned vessels and provides a regulatory route for commercial autonomous vessel operations while maintaining safety standards equivalent to conventional crewed workboats.

ZeroUSV said the certification enables the Oceanus12 class to operate commercially and provides assurance for customers across sectors including defence, offshore energy, hydrographic survey, environmental monitoring and scientific research.

“This is significant not just for ZeroUSV, but for the Oceanus class of USVs,” said Matthew Ratsey, managing director of ZeroUSV. “Achieving WB3 certification for the Oceanus12 class gives us the green light to operate commercially and will open up significant opportunities not only in the UK water space but in the global maritime sector.”

Ratsey said industry focus had shifted from proving the viability of USV technology to integrating payloads capable of delivering commercial or operational capability.

“Proven, certifiable platforms are needed that can be deployed safely and reliably in real-world operations,” he said. “This certification demonstrates that autonomous vessels can operate within an established regulatory framework while delivering the performance, endurance and operational flexibility our customers require.”

Designed, built and operated in the UK, the Oceanus12 is intended for long-endurance offshore operations and combines hybrid-electric propulsion with modular payload integration and autonomous navigation systems.

Seawork exhibitor Mecal, which played a role in the development and implementation of Workboat Code Edition 3, said the certification reflected growing regulatory maturity for autonomous maritime operations.

“Achieving WB3 certification for Oceanus12 is a significant milestone for both ZeroUSV and the wider autonomous maritime sector,” said Owen Preece, managing director at Mecal. “It demonstrates that advanced uncrewed vessel technologies can be successfully assessed against established maritime safety and operational standards.”

The certification comes amid growing interest in autonomous maritime systems across government and commercial markets, with regulatory compliance increasingly seen as a prerequisite for wider deployment.