New Project Wants to Introduce Autonomous Vessels to Offshore Wind Industry

A new £900k joint industry project is set to explore the technical, regulatory and societal issues of using autonomous surface vessels, integrated with existing manned shipping operations, to support offshore wind farm operations and maintenance.

The ultimate goal of the 18-month Windfarm Autonomous Ship Project (WASP) is to develop a timeline for the phased introduction of autonomous vessels. Previous research has found that vessels can account for as much as 60% of an offshore wind farm’s operating costs, which in themselves make up almost a quarter of the total lifecycle costs. These costs could be significantly reduced through the introduction of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (RAI). Increasing use of autonomous vessels will also lead to the... ... More: Official Press Release ORE Catapult

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ORE Catapult, project, vessel, autonomous vessel, offshore, joint industry project