VESSEL REVIEW | Breeze – USV demonstrator built for cargo transport duties in Russia’s Arctic zones

A new unmanned surface vehicle (USV) will soon be used to regularly transport cargo from the Russian port of Arkhangelsk to remote island territories within the Arkhangelsk Region.

Breeze (Бриз) was developed jointly by Russian companies Sea Project and Unmanned Logistics in fulfilment of a frame agreement with the Arkhangelsk Regional Government.

Though compact in size, the USV is capable of transporting up to 500 kg of assorted payloads of various types (such as postal parcels and humanitarian aid) over long distances. The cargo will be loaded in a dedicated compartment in the bow.

The USV is powered by a Yaroslavl diesel engine and is fitted with an AIS, collision avoidance systems, as well as remote and autonomous navigation systems. Tests validated the craft’s ability to withstand extreme operating conditions in the White Sea and to reach remote settlements such as those on the Solovetsky Islands.

Capable of autonomous or remote operation, ensuring flexibility

For its experimental delivery voyage, the USV departed a point along the Northern Dvina River with a 150kg payload and sailed to the Solovetsky Islands, completing the one-way journey in 21 hours, before returning to the Port of Arkhangelsk.

During the test, the USV was monitored remotely from an accompanying vessel and from Sea Project’s office in Saint Petersburg.

According to the company tasked with conducting the experimental delivery voyage, the USV spent more than 90 per cent of the round-trip voyage in fully autonomous mode.

First in a planned fleet of regional transport USVs

Plans are for the Arkhangelsk Region to be the first northern region of Russia where unmanned vessels will be used for transporting goods, thus freeing up crewed vessels for operation in areas with warmer temperatures.

Steps under the initiative include mass production of USVs within the next three years, introduction of dedicated coastal infrastructure, and integration of the craft into the existing general intermodal network.

Local port operator Rosmorport will assist in identifying potential launching and lifting points for USVs throughout the region.