Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs)
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UK-based ZeroUSV has completed construction and factory acceptance testing for its first 17-meter Oceanus17 Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV), delivering the platform to Plymouth for final integration ahead of its official naming ceremony.
Constructed at Manor Marine’s shipyard in Portland, the vessel has been designed for long-range, persistent, over-the-horizon operations across defence, maritime security, offshore survey, and scientific research. The platform delivers operational endurance in excess of 50 days and a range exceeding 5,000 nautical miles. Built with a 4,000 kg payload capacity, the vessel features a 20ft ISO-compatible payload bay complete with 30kW of dedicated payload power, allowing operators to rapidly configure and re-role complex payload systems for specific mission profiles.
Fully robotic in operation, the vessel incorporates level four autonomous navigation capabilities delivered via MarineAI’s GuardianAI autonomy suite. To ensure operational resilience in harsh maritime environments, the USV utilizes a dual redundant system architecture designed to eliminate single points of failure.
Matthew Ratsey, Managing Director of ZeroUSV, said, “The completion of the first of class Oceanus17 USV marks a very significant milestone for ZeroUSV, and demonstrates the company’s ability to react to market demand and iterate proven designs and deliver proven world class USV technology at pace.
“Just over a year ago Zero USV was launching the first Oceanus12 class USV, and 15 months on the results of being able to iterate at pace are clear for all to see, from design through to construction in such a short timeframe demonstrates ZeroUSV ability to deliver at pace.”
“Oceanus17 significantly expands what operators can achieve at sea,” Ratsey added. “Its combination of endurance, range, payload capacity, available payload power and ISO-compatible modularity creates a highly flexible platform that can be rapidly configured for defence and commercial missions, while providing the resilience and autonomy required for persistent, over-the-horizon operations.”
Designed, engineered, and built in the UK, the Oceanus17 expands upon the engineering and operational base of the earlier Oceanus12 class. The vessel is currently undergoing final fitout, payload integration, commissioning, and mission preparation at ZeroUSV’s headquarters at Turnchapel Wharf, with its official naming ceremony scheduled for the opening day of the British National Firework Championships next month.
