Lloyd’s Register (LR) has issued the UK’s first certification for a remotely operated and unmanned vessel (ROUV) under the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s (MCA) new Workboat Code Edition 3, Annex 2. The hydrogen-powered uncrewed surface vessel (USV) Pioneer, developed by ACUA Ocean, has become the first vessel to achieve compliance under the new standards, according to LR.
The WBC3 requirements, which were introduced by the MCA in December 2023, set out the safety and operational standards for ROUVs operating in UK waters. LR was the first certifying authority to be authorised by the MCA to issue certificates under the new annex.
The certification supports the Pioneer's upcoming sea trials, which will be conducted under the UK clean maritime demonstrator competition, an initiative aimed at showcasing innovative technologies for what it describes as "accelerating maritime decarbonisation". ACUA Ocean plans to complete these trial activities under hydrogen operation before undertaking further development work on hybrid and electric variants of the vessel.
Anderson Chaplow, a principal specialist at LR, described the certification as a major step forward that sets a precedent for others in the industry to follow. The Pioneer is a long-endurance USV designed for offshore surveillance, monitoring, and inspection, and features an integrated hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system and advanced autonomous navigation.