The innovative marine data acquisition provider and USV manufacturer, Uncrewed Survey Solutions (USS) has received MCA acknowledgement against MGN 705 general exemption for ROUV safe operations, enabling the business to now conduct its specialist hydrographic surveying work within UK waters.
A builder and operator of its own fleet of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), USS delivers customised marine data collection projects and missions primarily across the hydrographic and geophysical domains.
Having successfully operated internationally, the UK-headquartered business has received official acknowledgement that USS’ own Accession Class USV can be operated to support customers in UK waters, due to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) releasing MGN 705 specifically for Mini-MASS craft from 2.5 to <4.5 metres in length.
USS’ CEO, James Williams is an advocate of driving the industry in its safer operations, both in the UK and on a global basis. Williams is an active member of numerous working groups including the Surface Autonomy Subgroup for the FAST (Future Autonomous At Sea Technologies) Cluster, and also champions engagement with the DfT and MCA regarding matters affecting Mini-MASS.
James Williams comments, “As a pioneering business, we are delighted that USS is at the forefront of supporting the UK as a leader in upholding ROUV safe operations. The MCA’s new general exemption regulations enable smaller uncrewed vessels to be remotely operated in UK waters, in line and hand-in-hand with other stringent regulations including SOLAS and COLREGS’’.
He continues, “Being one of the first to embrace the new Marine Guidance Note mirrors USS’ ethos in focusing on greener, safer, and efficient seagoing operations, together with helping to drive MASS industry innovation, and also supporting the success of UK PLC.”
The UK is regarded as a global leader in safe ROUV operations, as demonstrated by the MCA’s Marine Guidance Notice MGN 705 setting a pathway for hi-tech small ROUVs operating in UK waters.
ROUVs between 2.5 metres and under 4.5 metres in length overall may comply with the General Exemption set out in MGN 705 permitting eligible vessels to operate without certification issued by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency or its delegates. Vessels subject to this General Exemption are expected to be under the constant supervision of a human operator, with the means to take control at any time.
Operating under the General Exemption allows USS to further assist its customers in their transition from traditional crewed surveying operations to the utilisation of smaller, uncrewed craft delivering turnkey 24/7 hydrographic surveying and marine data acquisition solutions for both Line-of-Sight (LOS) and Beyond-Line-of-Sight (BLOS) over-the-horizon projects.
Visit www.uncrewedsurveysolutions.com to find out more.
ABOUT UNCREWED SURVEY SOLUTIONS (USS)
Uncrewed Survey Solutions (USS) is a UK headquartered marine data acquisition company, that also builds and operates its own Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) survey fleet.
USS’ fleet is easily transported and deployed worldwide, being ideally suited for offshore renewable energy, oil and gas, dredging and construction as well as ports and harbour operations.
Uncrewed Survey Solutions (formerly known as Unmanned Survey Solutions) provides end-to-end solution encompassing project assessment through to delivery. USS designs and manufactures its own range of USVs which undertake the missions, with the team planning, resourcing and managing the projects from inception to completion.
Through the utilisation of USS’ specialist range of innovative USVs, customers can swiftly transition from a traditional crewed vessel solutions to safer, highly efficient, and greener operations.
USS’ fleet of USVs consists of the USS Accession and USS Inception classes with standard integrations including, Multibeam Echosounder (MBES), Side-Scan Sonar (SSS), Sub-Bottom Profiler (SBP), and Habitat Mapping Systems.
USS Accession is designed for offshore activities, supported by a Remote Operations Centre, delivering offshore Beyond Line of Sight (BLoS) operations. Uniquely, USS Accession has a modular payload system, enabling the hull to be lengthened to support various operations without compromising on stability. USS Accession has advanced hybrid battery systems and a sensor agnostic platform for integration of a vast array of mission-specific instruments.
USS Inception has been specifically designed for nearshore and inland waters Line of Sight (LoS) operations, avoiding the need for crew, thus increasing efficiency and safety, featuring rapid mobilisation and easy deployment of single sensor solutions.
Discover more at www.uncrewedsurveysolutions.com.
MCA CODE MGN705 OVERVIEW
ROUVs between 2.5m and under 4.5 metres in length overall may comply with the General Exemption set out in MGN 705 which permits eligible vessels to operate without certification issued by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency or its delegates.
To ensure the Master and the ROC (Remote Operations Centre) effectively plan the voyage with appropriate navigational charts and aids.
ROC operators must have a minimum 225° front view with a pan-tilt-zoom function, from the perspective of the ROUV, and is able to monitor a 360° total field of view with a pan-tilt-zoom function, and any accidents are to be reported in accordance with crewed vessel regulations.
Vessels subject to this General Exemption shall be under the constant supervision of a human operator, with means to take control at any time. The ROUV must not be capable of exceeding 6 knots and must not exceed a top planning or running speed of 6 knots.
An ROUV of 2.5 to <4.5 metres in length overall must:
i. Comply with the conditions of this General Exemption; or
ii. Be issued with a UK Load Line Certification following completion of a successful case-by-case assessment through application of the MGN 664 process; or
iii. Be issued with a Workboat Code Edition 3 certificate.
Master and ROC Operators must be suitable trained, and either have a commercially endorsed Certificate of Competence, or a STCW Certificate of Competence, or a qualification valid for the intended area category of water as set out in MSN 1853.
Master and ROC Operators also need to undertake numerous areas of training including, GMDSS, Radio Operator certification, MCA approved Small Ships Navigation and Radar: Radar and Meteorology Course, MCA approved Small Ships Navigation and Radar: Electronic Chart Systems and Bridge Watchkeeping Course, and, Remote Operation Centre (ROC) and vessel-specific training and familiarisation, together with Company-specific training and familiarisation, training in maritime cyber security; and Training as required by HSE and HSE.
ROUVs must adhere to Radiocommunications and Visibility criteria, and if towed, comply with COLREGs, and to SOLAS in general. Any equipment fitted to the ROUV after 1 January 2025 must comply with MSN 1874.
MEDIA CONTACT
Watermark Communications | Hannah Kent Colls | 07876 541876 | hannah@watermark360.com
