Maritime Robotics’ Mariner USV offers eco-friendly freight transport
Maritime Robotics has been given permission to operate uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) on the freight route between Trondheim and Vanvikan by the Norwegian Coastal Administration and the Norwegian Maritime Directorate. The company’s Mariner USV has already been used on the newly approved route, which offers a more sustainable and eco-friendly transport solution for goods and equipment. With its headquarters in Trondheim and production premises in Vanvikan, Maritime Robotics is well-positioned to take advantage of this development.
Uncrewed vessels are not only cost-effective and reduce risk assessment, but they also have lower CO2 emissions than their manned counterparts, making them an attractive option for freight transport. The approval is a significant milestone for the establishment of laws and regulations that enable launched drones to participate in ordinary traffic at sea, according to Eirik Hovstein, chief operating officer of Maritime Robotics. He emphasized that Norway is a pioneering country in the development of autonomous vessels, and it’s essential to update laws and regulations to take advantage of new opportunities in this field.
The project has received support from ZAWAS, an innovation cluster in collaboration with Innovation Norway and Norwegian industry, and the authorities are following up on several ongoing projects to enable the technology to contribute to new value creation in existing processes. The establishment of the freight route for uncrewed cargo boats marks a crucial step in the development of more sustainable transport solutions.
The success of the project’s first trip on the approved route was captured on video. You can watch the Mariner’s journey here.
