Zero USV (uncrewed surface vessels) has officially put a fully autonomous uncrewed surface vessel in the water after Ocean12 touched water for the first time at Manor Marine in Portland, Dorset, this week. Zero USV is a British SME that is looking to create the world’s first charter fleet of fully autonomous uncrewed surface vessels through a collaboration with MarineAI and MSubs. Oceanus12 is a fully equipped vessel that is ready for commissioning and integration from Zero USV’s home port of Plymouth, England. The vessel represents the culmination of nearly 18 months of design, engineering, and build effort which has been built on the success of the Mayflower 400’s transatlantic autonomous voyage. The Mayflower 400 is an autonomous research vessel that made the transatlantic voyage to Plymouth, Massachusetts from Plymouth, England. Oceanus12 is designed for long distance over-the-horizon operations and has been designed to have a wide range of potential applications like surveys and monitoring of critical assets to safety, geophysical surveys, border control, fisheries, defense, and more. Zero USV’s vessels use marine sensors to integrate data streams into MarineAI’s GuardianAI autonomy software which then enables real-time processing and analysis, ensuring COLREG-compliant vessel control and navigation, according to Zero USV. “We’ve created the world’s first complete solution – not just a cutting-edge 12m over-the-horizon USV available for charter, but also full maintenance and support to ensure 24/7 operations with minimal downtime,” said Matthew Ratsey, Zero USV’s founder. “Designed with safety and efficiency in mind, Oceanus12 can take on a wide range of offshore over-the-horizon tasks that would typically require a crew, eliminating on-water risks and associated costs, including significant environmental benefits afforded by it being crewless for clients, this means greater flexibility, enhanced operational efficiency, and zero crew expenses.” Oceanus12 is 11.55 meters long with a 11.40-meter waterline length and a max beam of 2.33 meters. The vessels hull is made of aluminum and can reach a sprint speed of 10 knots and a cruising speed of 6 knots. It has a fuel capacity of 1,200 liters, can operate for 2,000+ nautical miles, and has a payload of up to one ton. The Oceanus12 fleet currently comprises of 12 vessels and includes the option for an XLR (Extra Long Range) version that is 13 meters in length and carries more than 4,000 liters of fuel.