ACUA Ocean’s PIONEER vessel becomes the first unmanned surface vehicle (USV) certified under the UK Working Boats Code (WBC3), opening a new era for autonomous navigation.
USV PIONEER WBC3 compliant
Lloyd’s Register (LR), the international authority on ship classification, has awarded the first UK certification to a remotely operated, unmanned vessel, after meeting the requirements of Annex 2 of the WBC3 of the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). of the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
This regulatory achievement has been reached by the PIONEERa USV developed by ACUA Ocean using hydrogen fuel cell propulsion. hydrogen fuel cell propulsion.. It is a platform designed for extended surveillance, environmental monitoring and offshore inspection operations, with advanced autonomous navigation and remote control capabilities.
PIONEER compliance allows these types of technological solutions to access real-world testing as part of the UK’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) program.
Towards a cleaner and more autonomous fleet
ACUA Ocean plans to complete hydrogen-powered sea trials under the CMDC before moving forward with hybrid and electric versions. Its modular approach allows the USV to be adapted to different operational scenarios, from offshore infrastructure inspections to maritime border surveillance.
For LR, this approval represents a model of collaboration between technical entities, developers and regulators, driving the transition to safe and sustainable unmanned naval systems.
The future of certification for unmanned vessels
The classification society is already working with other operators to extend WBC3 certification to new platforms, accelerating the implementation of standards for a rapidly growing industry.
With the backing of the MCA, the legal framework in place and the technological advancement of developers such as ACUA Ocean, the United Kingdom is positioning itself as a benchmark in the regulation and deployment of autonomous surface vessels clean energy surface vessels.
Source and photo: Lloyd’s Register
