Surveyor is the second USV to be classified by the ABS, with the first, Voyager, a coastal and near-shore USV, receiving ABS class in 2023.
The new A1, DV Naval Craft, Autonomous (NAV, MNV, PRP, AUX, RO3) classification notation is likely to open doors for the company’s vessels, which are already supporting missions around the world in hydrography, ocean mapping, border security and critical infrastructure security tasks, it says.
“This landmark achievement sets a new global benchmark for unmanned systems and highlights Saildrone’s leadership in developing fully classed, open-ocean-capable USVs,” says Saildrone. “While other platforms have received certificates or interim approvals under evolving unmanned vessel frameworks, no other USV or UUV has yet received full classification status from any classification society. ABS is the first to grant full class to an unmanned platform, marking a key milestone for the industry.”
ABS classification means the vessel’s design, construction and autonomous control systems have all been rigorously reviewed and validated, including cyber security, structural integrity and ’fail-safe redundancies’, ensuring the vehicle can safely operate without crew in most ocean conditions.
“The ABS class certification is more than a certificate—it’s a signal to governments and the maritime industry that Saildrone USVs are mature, safe, tested, and ready for scale,” said Richard Jenkins, Saildrone founder and CEO.
Saildrone Surveyor
Saildrone is doing more and more work for the US Navy, and while formal classification is not a requirement, ABS standards are registered in the navy’s engineering and qualification process.
At 20 metres, Surveyor is twice the length of Voyager, and is capable of long-endurance missions collecting deep-ocean bathymetry as well as maritime domain awareness tasks such as anti-submarine warfare and trans-ocean cable surveys.
“ABS and Saildrone are pioneering new frontiers, setting the pace for innovation,” said Patrick Ryan, ABS senior vice resident and chief technology officer. “This step forward is a result of our investments in ABS’ technical capability and helping to ensure our Rules are able to support innovation with an unwavering focus on safety.”
