Innovative USV enters the water ahead of Q1 sea trials

The Pioneer-class programme began life in 2022 through funding from the UK Department for Transport’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, with initial concepts and designs developed by naval architect John Kecsmar of Ad Hoc Marine Design, a global leader in small waterplane area twin hull (SWATH) vessel design.

The launch is a major milestone for the Pioneer class since completing its design phase in February 2024 before commencing build at Aluminium Marine Consultants (AMC) on the Isle of Wight in March. The launch took place nine months after hull fabrication commenced. 

The key to the design of the USV is its SWATH hullform, which provides for significantly enhanced stability in high sea states, compared with conventional vessels.

The USV is designed to meet a number of requirements for commercial and military/security users. It meets the increasing need to rapidly deploy the latest equipment and technology and brings greater seakeeping stability and operational persistence compared with smaller monohull USVs.

Digital simulations and scale wave tank testing undertaken at University of Southampton and the Wolfson Unit have shown USV Pioneer, at 14m length, outperforms the stability and seakeeping capability of a monohull vessel more than 10 times its displacement and three times its length.

Following launch, USV Pioneer will enter 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 Maritime and Coastguard Agency Workboat Code approvals.