BMT, a maritime design and technical consultancy, has announced a collaboration with Ocius technology company on maritime data collection and management. With the aim of deploying a fleet of 1,000 autonomous vessels globally within the next 10 years, BMT and Ocius plan to provide a persistent and networked system of remote sensors.
The teaming agreement between BMT and Ocius aims to develop and demonstrate the effectiveness of the Bluebottle uncrewed surface vessel (USV) for providing data as a service. The companies plan to focus on codeveloping a commercial data collection and management model, initially targeting environmental monitoring for offshore wind development projects.
The collaboration takes advantage of BMT’s maritime and consulting expertise in environmental data collection and analysis and supports the development of a sensor package that aims to maximize the range of data collected. The companies together say they will work with regulators to ensure data efficiency, and both parties plan collaborate to establish a robust and scalable network of remote sensors for maritime applications.
“Our collaboration with Ocius marks a new era in maritime data collection and management,” said Graeme Nayler, BMT’s regional business director in the Asia Pacific region. “By integrating Ocius’ advanced, renewable powered, autonomous vessels with BMT’s extensive expertise with environmental data, we aim to create a cost-effective, pay-per-use model that offers unparalleled capabilities to a range of customers worldwide, both government and commercial.”
The initial focus of the collaboration will be on supporting offshore wind customers in Australia with necessary environmental analysis and planning, using the Bluebottle vessels. These vessels will provide data for environmental monitoring, maritime security, asset monitoring, and marine life observation. By collecting comprehensive metocean data, imagery, and environmental metrics, the Bluebottle platform will support a range of applications, including:
- Environmental monitoring—Collecting data on sea life, water quality, and other environmental parameters
- Metocean data collection—Providing accurate meteorological and oceanographic data to support maritime operations
- Security and surveillance—Providing real-time data on maritime activities
“This teaming agreement with BMT represents a leap forward in our mission to provide autonomous solutions for maritime challenges.” Said Robert Dane, CEO of Ocius. “Bluebottles, equipped with advanced sensors provided and operated by BMT, will help scientists, sailors, and CEOs safeguard our oceans, monitor assets, and make informed decisions.”
The companies said they expect to begin deploying the autonomous vessels immediately, with the aim of providing limited operational capability within the next 2 years within the Asia Pacific region.