Zero USV Launches Oceanus12 Unmanned Surface Vessel

British firm Zero USV has reached a significant milestone with the launch of its Oceanus12 unmanned surface vessel (USV). This marks a step closer to offering the world’s first charter fleet of fully-autonomous USVs.

The unveiling of the inaugural Oceanus12 took place in February at Manor Marine in Portland, Dorset. The fully equipped vessel is now undergoing commissioning and integration trials from Zero USV’s home port in Plymouth.

The development of the Oceanus12 has been a result of nearly 18 months of design, engineering, and build efforts from the Zero USV team. This achievement builds on the success of the Mayflower 400’s transatlantic autonomous voyage, showcasing the collaboration between Zero USV’s parent company MSubs, non-profit Promare, and sister marine software company MarineAI.

With the first Oceanus12 now launched, the company is gearing up to complete the second vessel by late March, followed by vessels three and four shortly after.

The Oceanus12 is designed for long-distance over-the-horizon operations and is mission agnostic, allowing for a wide range of applications such as surveys, asset monitoring, safety operations, geophysical surveys, border control, fisheries, and defense.

Since announcing the ‘charter’ business model, Zero USV has garnered significant interest, leading to exciting opportunities for the first two vessels. Details on these opportunities will be revealed in the coming weeks.

The 12-meter Oceanus12 USV features a hybrid-electric drive system with twin drives for redundancy and efficiency. It boasts a cruising range of over 2500 nautical miles and is equipped with MarineAI’s Guardian software, the most advanced autonomous software stack on the market.

Utilizing top-of-the-line marine sensors, including the renowned mm-wave Navtech Radar, the Oceanus12 integrates multiple data streams into MarineAI’s GuardianAI autonomy software for real-time processing and analysis, ensuring COLREG-compliant vessel control and navigation.

Matthew Ratsey, founder of Zero USV, highlighted the company’s innovative approach, stating, “We’ve created the world’s first complete solution – not just a cutting-edge 12-meter over-the-horizon USV available for charter, but also full maintenance and support for 24/7 operations with minimal downtime. Designed with safety and efficiency in mind, Oceanus12 can tackle a wide range of offshore tasks without the need for a crew, reducing risks and costs while providing significant environmental benefits.”