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| Photo credit: Saildrone |
Saildrone has reached a historic milestone as its 20-meter Surveyor unmanned surface vehicle (USV) became the first of its kind worldwide to receive full classification from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). This recognition validates the vessel’s design, construction, and operational safety, marking a breakthrough moment for autonomous maritime systems.
The ABS process assessed the Surveyor’s hull structure, autonomous navigation controls, cybersecure communications, and fail-safe redundancies. Meeting these standards demonstrates the USV’s ability to operate safely and reliably on extended missions in the open ocean. The Surveyor can carry out diverse roles, including deep-ocean mapping, transoceanic cable route surveys, maritime domain awareness, and even anti-submarine warfare support.
This achievement follows the earlier ABS certification of Saildrone’s smaller Voyager USV in 2023, which specializes in coastal and near-shore missions. Together, the Surveyor and Voyager form a scalable fleet of autonomous vessels capable of supporting defense, commercial, and scientific needs, all monitored continuously by Saildrone’s global mission control operations.
According to Saildrone’s leadership, the ABS classification is more than a regulatory milestone—it signals to governments and industry partners that large-scale autonomous vessels are now mature, safe, and ready for deployment. For ABS, the approval underscores its role in enabling next-generation maritime technologies while ensuring rigorous safety and reliability.
By securing this classification, Saildrone positions itself at the forefront of maritime autonomy, setting a benchmark that could accelerate adoption of unmanned systems across global shipping, security, and research sectors.