Large Uncrewed Surface Vessel: An opportunity for Energy Transition?

Driven by the IMO target to make the maritime industry net-zero in its carbon emissions by 2050, the maritime industry now has the question of how to create both technically feasible and economically viable solutions. While many are looking at how this can be achieved for currently crewed vessels, even those service vessels such as naval combatants, there is also a real benefit that could be had by combining autonomy with the challenge of meeting the energy transition. Without people onboard there are options to completely change assumptions on layout, deck height and operations that could provide greater available space and counter energy density challenges. Additionally the removal of human life could open the line for other fuels such as ammonia with significant toxicity concerns. This paper investigates the benefits and difficulties that a Large Unmanned Surface Vessel (LUSV) utilising alternative fuel can bring, building on the recent BMT LUSV vision.