Bollinger Shipyards delivers three anti-mine USVs to US Navy

Bollinger Shipyards has delivered the first three mine countermeasures unmanned surface vehicles to the US Navy.

These vessels are the navy’s first program of record, non-prototype autonomous surface ships, a significant step towards the transition to autonomous maritime operations.

The USVs are multi-mission autonomous vessels capable of conducting minesweeping, mine hunting, and mine neutralization operations.

These missions have traditionally been performed by manned MCM-1 class ships and MH-53E helicopters, both of which are being retired.

The new USVs reduces risk to sailors by conducting dangerous operations in mine-threatened waters without a crew onboard. They employ multiple payload delivery systems (PDSs) including minesweeping PDSs, minehunting PDSs and PDSs for future payloads, including mine neutralization.

Bollinger is constructing the USVs at its Lockport, Louisiana facility. To date, the navy has contracted Bollinger for nine vessels under the program, with options for up to 18 more.

“This milestone demonstrates Bollinger’s ability to deliver highly complex, next-generation capabilities that meet the evolving needs of our naval forces," said Ben Bordelon, President and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards.