ZeroUSV Oceanus12 meets MCA WB3 requirements

ZeroUSV has announced that its Oceanus12 class of autonomous uncrewed surface vessels has met the regulatory compliance standards required for an MCA Workboat Code Edition 3 (WB3) Class Certificate to be issued.

The company says the certification process was led by maritime certification authority MECAL, working with ZeroUSV and the coding department at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

According to ZeroUSV, the Oceanus12 class has been assessed against the safety, operational and technical requirements set out under the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s Workboat Code Edition 3, including the framework developed for remotely operated and unmanned vessels.

ZeroUSV says the award supports the commercialisation and regulation of autonomous maritime systems. It also says WB3 has become an important benchmark for the safe integration of autonomous technologies into maritime operations.

ZeroUSV says the certification gives commercial customers independent assurance that the Oceanus12 class has been assessed against regulatory standards.

The company says the Oceanus12 class is intended for use across offshore energy, hydrographic survey, environmental monitoring and scientific applications.

Designed, built and operated in the UK, the Oceanus12 class is a 12-metre autonomous surface vessel developed for long-endurance offshore operations.

ZeroUSV says the platform combines hybrid-electric propulsion, modular payload integration and advanced autonomous navigation capabilities. According to the company, this enables multi-week missions in challenging maritime environments.

MECAL describes itself as one of the UK’s leading maritime certification and surveying organisations. The release says MECAL has played an active role in the development and implementation of Workboat Code Edition 3.

Under WB3, Annex 2 addresses certification requirements for remotely operated unmanned vessels, this establishes a pathway for commercial autonomous vessel operations while maintaining safety standards equivalent to those expected of conventional crewed workboats.