ABS, Eureka and AIRCAT collaborate to accelerate USV\/ASV development
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Houston-headquartered Eureka Naval Craft, <\/a>France\u2019s AIRCAT Vessels S.A.S.<\/a> and ABS have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that aims to accelerate safe development of high-speed unmanned and autonomous surface vessels (USVs\/ASVs) for both naval defense and offshore energy operations.<\/p>\n The collaboration is designed to set new international standards, which will support safety, reliability, and operational excellence for high-speed autonomous vessels deployed in high-risk civilian and military environments.<\/p>\n The MOU leverages Eureka\u2019s advanced naval vessel innovation, AIRCAT\u2019s commercial offshore pedigree, and ABS\u2019s classification expertise to bridge defense and energy industry needs.<\/p>\n \u201cWhether serving a naval mission or supporting offshore energy, high-speed unmanned craft face the same unforgiving risks. By combining our strengths under ABS\u2019s safety leadership, we are building platforms that can be trusted across both worlds,\u201d said Bo Jardine, CEO of Eureka Boats.<\/p>\n \u201cABS is excited to work with Eureka and AIRCAT, leveraging our expertise with the world\u2019s most advanced autonomous and remote-control technology to drive innovation while maintaining an unwavering commitment to safety,\u201d said Miguel Hernandez, senior vice president, global offshore,at ABS.<\/p>\n The teaming agreement will pursue initiatives aimed at achieving measurable, cross-sector impact:<\/p>\n Modular Payload Integration<\/strong> \u2013 Develop and validate adaptable payload systems, such as intelligence and surveillance systems.<\/p>\n Reconnaissance masts<\/strong>, mission modules, and spill response units for quick secure installation or swapping, ensuring critical ship functions like propulsion, communications, and navigation remain secure.<\/p>\n Unified safety frameworks <\/strong>\u2013 Combine offshore energy\u2019s rigorous operational standards with defense-grade redundancy to ensure autonomy systems can withstand harsh sea states, contested environments, and mission-critical demands.<\/p>\n Trials and demonstrations \u2013 Conduct defense and offshore trials to validate safety cases, including high-speed sea trials and failure testing. Use cases include naval patrol and interdiction, offshore resupply, offshore surveillance, and emergency logistics.<\/p>\n International Standards Alignment \u2013 Set a global benchmark for autonomous operations by ensuring compliance with:<\/p>\n Jerome Arnold, managing director of AIRCAT Vessels, said: \u201cThis is more than technology development \u2013 it\u2019s about harmonizing expectations across industries. Offshore energy demands the same level of resilience as the defense community, and, together, we are ensuring both can benefit from innovations in safety and autonomy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBy merging defense innovation with offshore practices,\u201d said Jardine, \u201cwe will ensure that naval forces receive safe, resilient, autonomy-ready platforms, that energy operators benefit from defense-grade reliability in critical offshore missions, and that global regulators gain confidence that autonomous vessels can operate as safely, or even more safely, than manned ones.<\/p>\n \u201cThis exciting collaboration revolutionizes the design, validation, and deployment of high-speed autonomous vessels, enhancing safety and operational trust at sea.\u201d<\/p>\n The post ABS, Eureka and AIRCAT collaborate to accelerate USV\/ASV development<\/a> appeared first on Marine Log<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n