A remote hydrogen-powered controlled vessel has completed a mission which its developers have called "a breakthrough" for the maritime sector.
Plymouth-based Acua Ocean has developed the unmanned surface vehicle (USV) which it said had successfully carried out a 24-hour operation with zero emissions.
This article was written by Scott Bingham BBC Devon, published on 8th September 2025 on BBC News. Read the original article here.
The company's chief product officer John Hunnibell said the Pioneer craft was an important step towards making maritime operations more environmentally friendly. by producing less carbon.
Pioneer had been awarded the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency's Workboat Code certificate which is a world-first approval for this type of vessel, he added.
"To have a world-first like that is remarkable"
During the mission 12 miles (19km) off the coast, Pioneer's autonomous systems, stability and performance were continuously monitored from the firm's headquarters in Turnchapel.
"There is not a small element of pride in this," Mr Hunnibell said.
"For us, a small start-up, to have a world-first like that is remarkable."
About ACUA Ocean
ACUA Ocean relocated to Turnchapel Wharf in mid-2024 to continue to build and development of their vessel, USV Pioneer. The vessel was subsequently launched in late-2024 before an official naming ceremony in early-2025.
The UK-based autonomous unmanned surface vessel (USV) developer began their Pioneer-class programme in 2022 through funding from the UK Department of Transport’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition.
In the summer of 2025, Lloyd's Register issued issued the UK's first certification for a remotely operated and unmanned vessel (RUOV) under the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s (MCA) Workboat Code Edition 3 (WBC3) Annex 2, with hydrogen-powered PIONEER from ACUA Ocean becoming the first vessel to achieve compliance.
Turnchapel Wharf is also working with ACUA Ocean on its future fuels and technology strategy under grand funding from the South West Marine and Maritime Launchpad, with ACUA Ocean also a founding member of the Turnchapel Wharf Marine Autonomy User Group.
