Conflicts, offshore surveys accelerate USV development

A growing fleet of purpose-built unmanned surface vessels (USVs) is replacing manned ships for surveys, subsea inspections and ocean research, but regulatory frameworks are still catching up.

The offshore industry has seen significant growth in supervised USVs displacing crewed operations at scale, while the number of hydrographic and bathymetric surveys completed without manned vessels is increasing.

Although commercial applications are increasing for USVs, defence spending remains the most important driver in USV development and manufacturing.

USV operator Janus Marine and Defense has discovered maritime conflicts, and the US Department of War’s investment, are fuelling the construction of unmanned vessels in what has become an arms race between major maritime nations.

The widespread deployment of drones at sea in theatres of war is supercharging military autonomous programmes, with the US Navy significantly stepping up the speed of its procurement process, said Janus chief executive Jack Dougherty.

In its third annual marine autonomy review, Janus reported that China is shifting its USV investment towards larger, more capable autonomous vessels designed for extended endurance, an increased payload and greater operational reach.

The USV operator also found that NATO members are steadily expanding their operational expertise with unmanned systems, deploying USVs in the Baltic, North Sea and Atlantic.

“The Ukraine War has been the catalyst for change and has effectively rewritten the USV rulebook, by proving that a small, low-cost USV can sink warships worth hundreds of millions of dollars,” said Janus head of international business development, Jeff Miller.

“The Black Sea has become the world’s most intensive real-world proving ground for autonomous maritime systems, and its lessons are driving procurement decisions from Washington [US] to Paris [France] to Oslo [Norway],” he said.

“Cheap, attainable armed USVs are not a future capability. They are a current one.”