Lloyd’s Register Issues UK’s First Certification for Hydrogen-Powered Remotely Operated Vessel

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has made history by issuing the UK’s first certification for a remotely operated and unmanned vessel (ROUV) under the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s (MCA) Workboat Code Edition 3 (WBC3) Annex 2. The hydrogen-powered PIONEER from ACUA Ocean has become the first vessel to achieve compliance with these stringent standards.

The WBC3 requirements, introduced by the MCA in December 2023, establish safety and operational standards for ROUVs operating in UK waters. LR, as the first certifying authority authorized by the MCA to issue certificates under Annex 2, has successfully completed a full certification process for an operational ROUV, setting a new benchmark in the maritime industry.

This certification paves the way for PIONEER’s upcoming sea trials as part of the UK Clean Maritime Demonstrator Competition (CMDC), which aims to showcase innovative technologies to accelerate maritime decarbonization. ACUA Ocean plans to conduct trial activities under hydrogen operation before exploring further development of hybrid and electric variants of PIONEER.

Developed by ACUA Ocean based in Plymouth, PIONEER is a hydrogen-powered, long-endurance uncrewed surface vessel (USV) specifically designed for offshore surveillance, monitoring, and inspection tasks. Equipped with an integrated hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system, advanced autonomous navigation capabilities, remote command functionalities, and a modular design adaptable to various offshore operations, PIONEER represents a significant advancement in the field of autonomous vessels.

LR remains committed to collaborating with operators within the ROUV and autonomous vessel community and anticipates issuing more WBC3 Annex 2 certifications in the coming months. This milestone certification underscores LR’s dedication to promoting safety, innovation, and sustainability in the maritime sector.