New UK-built SWATH USV hits the water

UK unmanned systems manufacturer ACUA Ocean recently completed the test launch of a new autonomous unmanned surface vehicle (USV).

USV Pioneer is the first vessel in a new series of USVs known as the Pioneer-class. The lead USV was built by Isle of Wight-based Aluminium Marine Consultants to a design developed by naval architect John Kecsmar of Ad Hoc Marine Design.

The launch took place just nine months following initial hull fabrication commencing to vessel in the water for trim, stability and incline testing.

ACUA Ocean said the key to the design of USV Pioneer is its unique SWATH design, which provides for significantly enhanced stability in higher sea states.

The company explained that USV Pioneer's rapid design, development and launch meets two critical requirements for commercial and security end users. It meets the increasing need to rapidly deploy the latest equipment and technology rather than multi-year procurement and build cycles of traditional vessels, while also bringing greater seakeeping stability and operational persistence not currently found in smaller monohull USVs capable of collecting data and deploying sensor and system payloads.

Digital simulations and scale wave tank testing undertaken by academics at the University of Southampton and the Wolfson Unit have shown USV Pioneer, at 14.2 metres long and displacing 25 tonnes, outperforms the stability and seakeeping capability of a monohull vessel over 10 times its displacement and three times its length.

Following the successful launch, USV Pioneer now enters a three-month period of sea trials and regulatory checks ahead of demonstrations in March 2025. As part of the sea trials, ACUA Ocean will be working alongside Lloyd’s Register towards the USV's Maritime and Coastguard Agency Workboat Code approvals.