UK designer and manufacturer of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) ZeroUSV has made a strategic investment in the Manor Marine shipyard, which in the last 12 months constructed and outfitted all four Oceanus12 vessels currently in operation.
By becoming a shareholder in Manor Marine, ZeroUSV says it secures production capacity to significantly scale and deliver at pace the design, engineering and build phases of its Oceanus class USVs from Manor Marine’s base in Portland, Dorset.
The move is said to further enhance ZeroUSV’s end-to-end domestic production capabilities, while securing long-term business for Manor Marine. Additional manufacturing space may be added from Autumn 2027.
Tom O’Neill, Operations Director at Manor Marine, said: “Autonomous vessels represent a new frontier for critical maritime operations supporting defence and energy security objectives, and it’s important that the UK capitalises on its growing reputation in this space. We’re proud that ZeroUSV has made the transition from client to strategic investor; this says a great deal about the trust that our teams have cultivated in the delivery of the fleet to date and sets us up perfectly for deeper collaboration in future.”
The Oceanus class USVs are fully robotic and low-carbon, featuring large payload capacity, customizable design, serving as a versatile platform for a wide range of critical maritime operations, including defense, ZeroUSV said.
Construction of the first Oceanus17 class USV, a larger 17-meter platform development with the engineering of the Oceanus12, is currently underway and is set for delivery in early July this year.
Matthew Ratsey, Co-founder and Managing Director of ZeroUSV, said: “From the outset Manor Marine have proven to be a key partner in delivering the world-class Oceanus12 USV which the 17 is now building on. The investment we are making today is a recognition of that, and a serious statement of intent which will guarantee production capacity, and allow ZeroUSV to continue to scale at an aggressive pace which the market demands. This will be a direct boost to the UK’s sovereign shipbuilding capability and local economic opportunities in the South West.”
