With the speed of evolution for the maritime autonomy sector continuing to accelerate, the need for collaboration and long-term planning is key.
With Turnchapel Wharf firmly established as the UK;s home of maritime autonomy, the site has launched the Turnchapel Wharf Marine Autonomy User Group. This new group invites colleagues and partners from leading organisations at the forefront of maritime innovation to provide a platform for open dialogue on the current and future needs of the sector.
Plymouth stands out internationally as a hub for marine innovation, home to one of the world’s most concentrated communities of marine science and technology specialists. It is estimated that 11.3% of the city's jobs are within the marine science and technology sector and, it is estimated the the global marine autonomy market will be worth £103billion by 2030 with the UK owner a 10% market share.
Founding members of the User Group include: Fugro, Cattewater Harbour Commissioners, Thales, ACUA Ocean, Zero USV, OSHEN, SeaRegs Training, and Marine AI.
The Scope of the User Group
The field of uncrewed and autonomous maritime systems is rapidly evolving, with Turnchapel Wharf and Plymouth at the centre of this evolution.
The User Group intends to bring together the key organisations within the sector, to discuss:
- Infrastructure and facility development to support the next generation of autonomous platforms
- Navigational safety and integration with existing harbour operations
- Regulatory and environmental considerations for operating uncrewed surface vessels (USVs)
- Shared innovation priorities and opportunities for collaboration between organisations
“This first user group meeting signals our collective commitment to advancing the UK’s capabilities in maritime autonomy”
“Turnchapel Wharf is not just a location – it’s a living testbed and operational base where industry leaders are shaping the future of autonomous maritime technology.”
- Ryan Bonney, Site Manager
"When we decided to have Plymouth as Oshen's HQ, Turnchapel Wharf was one of the first places we were pointed to, for its density of marine autonomy operators and builders."
Between us, we operate an incredibly varied set of autonomous platforms, and it's good to get together as operators and users who all run our platforms out of the same location.
- Anahita Laverack, CEO & Co-founder at OSHEN
"So good to see Turnchapel and Plymouth being recognised as the home of Autonomy in the UK. We are very pleased to be part of this group and watching and being part of this growing community."
- Simon Jinks, Maritime Trainer & Business Owner at SeaRegs Training
"The importance of this group, to have the operational leads all around one table is critical to ensure one voice to enable the industry to grow safely."
Operating Now, Delivering For The Future
The meeting concluded with a joint agreement signed by all parties, establishing a long-term roadmap for the user group and a collective agreement for continued collaboration. Turnchapel Wharf remains committed to enabling innovation through collaboration and will continue to support the UK's growing maritime autonomy sector.
Photo - Shaun Roster / Thales
For further information on the Turnchapel Wharf Marine Autonomy User Group, please contact Ryan Bonney on 01752 492 565 or email enquiries@turnchapelwharf.com.