Boston-based tech and shipbuilding firm Blue Water Autonomy has revealed it is about to begin construction of a 190-foot autonomous uncrewed surface vessel (USV) for the U.S. Navy.
Dubbed the Liberty Class, the steel-hulled Level 4 autonomy vessel is a reworking of Damen’s Stan Patrol 6009 hull design optimised for uncrewed operations.
The USV is being built by Conrad Shipyard in Louisiana; as per a press statement the start-up says it plans to complete the first ship this year under program of record status and is hopeful of securing a serial production deal with the U.S. Navy.
Blue Water Autonomy said the USV can accommodate four shipping containers, giving it more than 150 tonnes of payload capacity and a range of over 10,000 nautical miles. It will be capable of speeds of up to 25 knots. Construction of the first boat is scheduled to begin next month.
Its press statement noted: “As the U.S. Navy drives to expand fleet capacity, accelerating the deployment of unmanned systems that complement traditional crewed ships has become a critical effort.
“Liberty’s design supports a range of missions, including missile, sensor, and logistics payloads, and offers the Navy a ship immediately producible with existing U.S. shipyards and commercial supply chains.”
The firm’s CEO Rylan Hamilton added: “The Liberty class reflects our focus on building autonomous ships that are designed from the start for long-duration operations and repeat production.
“By adapting a proven hull and re-engineering it for unmanned operations, we’re delivering a vessel that can operate for extended periods without crew while being produced at a pace the Navy urgently needs. This is a modern take on an old idea: building capable ships quickly and at scale.”
- You can read more details on the Blue Water Autonomy website