Cellula Robotics Ltd. and Industrias FERRI S.A. have formed Nautical Reach Systems Ltd., an East Coast Canadian joint venture that will design and manufacture marine motion, lift and handling systems for autonomous maritime operations.
The company’s portfolio will cover smart launch and recovery, along with complex payload handling across uncrewed surface and underwater vehicles, with a focus on operations in remote, harsh and Arctic environments.
For naval, coast guard and offshore operators using autonomous platforms beyond the horizon or far from conventional support, safe and reliable handling at sea is critical. Nautical Reach Systems will engineer its solutions around the mission, host vessel and operating environment, bringing vehicle and handling equipment expertise together within one engineering team.
The venture combines Cellula’s 25 years of subsea engineering and experience delivering long-endurance autonomous underwater systems with FERRI’s more than 60 years of experience in marine deck machinery and complex load-handling solutions. FERRI’s bespoke marine and naval handling systems are used by international navies and installed on hundreds of vessels worldwide, while Cellula has experience integrating vehicles, payloads and operational support around individual missions.
FERRI has also supplied the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Coast Guard. Through the joint venture, the company will make a multi-million-dollar investment in Canada, supporting the creation of skilled jobs and intellectual property in Canada. Cellula will contribute intellectual property in autonomous handling solutions.
FERRI’s established European presence, together with Cellula’s expanding regional presence, will support further growth across the region.
Neil Manning, CEO of Cellula Robotics, commented, “This partnership is designed to help shape the future of marine operations by enabling smart, autonomous decision-making at the edge. Nautical Reach Systems gives customers one engineering team that understands what is happening below the surface and on deck. That shared view means the vehicle and its handling equipment can be designed together around how they will be used at sea. I am truly excited by this joint venture, and grateful for the commitment and trust FERRI has placed in us.”
Patricio Fernández, CEO of FERRI, added, “FERRI has delivered advanced marine deck machinery and complex load-handling solutions for more than 60 years. With experience supplying the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Coast Guard, we are committed to expanding our Canadian partnerships. I am very pleased to be working with Cellula Robotics to bring FERRI’s marine handling expertise together with Cellula’s autonomous robotics capabilities and deliver practical solutions for customers.”
