Marine autonomy companies unveil plans for UAE's first uncrewed vessel centre for industry

US marine autonomy specialist Janus Marine and Defense and its partner Nexus Remote Solutions have confirmed plans to open the UAE’s first centre for the testing, hiring, and maintenance of unmanned vessels.

The remote operations centre (ROC) will be based at the Addax Tower in Al Reem Island in Abu Dhabi and will be the first of its kind in the Gulf open to industry and small- to medium-sized companies.

The ROC will enable startups and scale ups to innovate unmanned surface vessel (USVs) and unmanned underwater vessel (UUV) technology for both the commercial and defence sectors.

Janus Marine and Defense owner Jack Dougherty said the ROC will benefit from the UAE’s open policy towards USV operations in its territorial waters.

Dougherty added that the UAE offers some of the best conditions in the world for uncrewed vessel operations – being free from red tape and regulation seen elsewhere in the world.

The UAE has three ROCs spanning the commercial and defence markets, yet all three are privately owned and closed to external contractors.

The partnership's ROC will "fill a gap in the market" giving private companies access to the same technology and facilities found in private ROCs, added Dougherty.

John Woroniuk, founder of Nexus Remote Solutions, said that the ROC is akin to an R&D centre where clients can hire modern equipment and undertake vessel trials.

"We can offer to operate manned or unmanned vessels," added Woroniuk.

The ROC will feature soundproof pods with three individual operator consoles in each allowing for a multitude of pilot, technician, and payload operators.