UK’s First Hydrogen-Powered Vessel PIONEER Certified by Lloyd’s Register

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has granted the UK’s first certification for a hydrogen-powered remotely operated and unmanned vessel (ROUV), PIONEER, developed by ACUA Ocean. The certification aligns with Annex 2 of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s (MCA) Workboat Code Edition 3 (WBC3). Introduced in December 2023, WBC3 sets stringent standards for ROUVs, with LR being the first certifying authority authorized by the MCA to issue certificates under Annex 2.

This certification marks a pivotal milestone for PIONEER as it gears up for sea trials under the UK Clean Maritime Demonstrator Competition (CMDC), which promotes maritime decarbonization. PIONEER is a long-endurance uncrewed surface vessel (USV) designed for offshore tasks like surveillance, monitoring, and inspection. It features a hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system, autonomous navigation, remote command capabilities, and a modular design adaptable for various offshore operations.

LR’s principal specialist, Anderson Chaplow, emphasized that this certification is a significant advancement for the UK maritime industry, proving that complex ROUVs can be certified under Annex 2 and setting a precedent for future innovations. ACUA Ocean, based in Plymouth, plans to complete CMDC trials for hydrogen operations before developing hybrid and electric variants of PIONEER. CEO Neil Tinmouth highlighted the certification as a testament to the company’s commitment to innovation and high standards in ROUV development.

In a separate initiative, LR partnered with Microsoft in March to leverage generative AI via Azure OpenAI Service, aiming to streamline regulatory processes for nuclear technology in maritime applications, potentially aligning terrestrial and maritime nuclear frameworks.