Seiche Takes Majority Stake in AutoNaut

AutoNaut has secured investment from the Seiche Group to advance its R&D aims, assure long-term growth and develop business across UK and international markets. AutoNaut Ltd is the new name for the company previously trading as MOST (Autonomous Vessels), which was founded in 2012. Directors David Maclean and Mike Poole will continue to run the company from their Chichester (UK) base, concentrating on technical and marketing/sales activity respectively.

The investment from Seiche will provide additional resources for R&D and manufacturing as well as administrative support. Seiche will also help to expand all sales and marketing activity. Seiche will also provide a springboard for AutoNaut into a number of commercial markets.

AutoNaut Ltd design and manufacture wave-propelled boats, equipped to operate as an autonomous marine data collection hub. A fleet of craft is now in production in a range of sizes to suit multiple applications across the Oil & Gas, Renewables, Civil Engineering, Research and Science sectors as well as for Defence, Security and Surveillance.  

AutoNaut vessels require no fuel, making them capable of long endurance ocean missions. The vessels are storm-proven and operate persistently at up to 4 knots with the manoeuvrability to perform a range of survey tasks from station-keeping to complex transects. A suite of sensors can be fitted, including gyro-stabilised HD cameras, hydrophone, oceanographic sensors, electronic and radar detection equipment. The craft may then act as a communications bridge to transmit data to shore in real time for remote offshore operations. These capabilities open up monitoring (PAM), pipeline inspection and surveillance for illegal fisheries and border patrol.

Marine Data Collection Hub

David Maclean of AutoNaut states that Seiche’s investment provides the opportunity to take the AutoNaut business to the next level of growth and to tackle the expanding global market for specific applications of marine autonomous systems. In four years the company have taken a revolutionary wave propulsion technology, proved it is seaworthy, and turned it into a widely capable marine data collection hub to gather and transmit data from below, above, and at the surface of the world’s oceans. 

Successful trials monitoring noise in the English Channel have recently been completed with a PAM-AutoNaut, in partnership with Plymouth University. This PAM application will be developed further in the coming months with a baseline sound survey for Oil and Gas industry in UK waters. Participation will then follow in the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) section of the NATO Unmanned Warrior exercise off the Hebrides in October.

Underwater Acoustic Systems

Seiche was listed in the 2015 Sunday Times Tech Track league as the fastest growing marine technology company in the UK. The company specialises in the manufacture of underwater acoustic systems and provides a range of services in modelling, measurement and mitigation. The company also runs training in advanced underwater acoustics, Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) and JNCC accredited marine mammal observation.

Formed in 1996 to undertake underwater acoustics research projects, the company was involved in the early stages of PAM development. Seiche Ltd is now the leading worldwide supplier of PAM equipment to the oil and gas and renewable energy industries with a proven track record exceeding 150,000 days of deployment.

Seiche provides a range of marine acoustic solutions from simple single hydrophones to digital systems. Seiche has a global reach via offices in the UK, USA, South Africa and Scandinavia. The company maintains strong partnerships and relationships with industry, academics and government agencies around the world.