Ben Simpson News

Uncrewed surface vessel specialist SEA-KIT International has announced plans to build another of its X-class, 12m USVs as a fleet vessel for launch in 2022. This build, the sixth X-class to be constructed at the company’s Essex base, will pave the way for the company to meet increased market demand for unmanned vessels and to penetrate new sectors of the global maritime industry, the company said.SEA-KIT CEO, Ben Simpson, commented: “Our X-class USV has changed very little since we won the Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE with USV ‘Maxlimer’ back in 2015.

SEA-KIT, a company designing and building Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs), has won funding to install a PCB-based hydrogen fuel cell, engineered by Bramble Energy, on its 12m USV ‘Maxlimer’ and demonstrate zero-emission maritime operations.SEA-KIT secured the grant through the recent Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) – Strand 2 in the UK funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) working with InnovateUK.The project will showcase a successful diesel to hydrogen…

While the adoption of unmanned/uncrewed surfaces vessels (USVs) was initially in defence, use of these low footprint systems has spread into other sectors, not least survey, and now the race is on for greater capability, endurance and autonomy. Elaine Maslin reports.After starting small, in inland waterways, use of USVs for survey operations has moved into coastal and now offshore waters. Given the extensive amount of seabed and rapid growth in offshore wind, there’s plenty of work out there for them to do.With the travel restrictions posed by Covid and increasing awareness of climate change…

Final preparations are underway for a 12-meter-long ship to set sail from Canada and attempt the world's first transatlantic crossing without a crew.The USV Maxlimer, an unmanned surface vessel, is bound for the south coast of England and will conduct deep sea surveys on the way, guided by a skipper in a control station in Britain.The voyage is expected to take about 35 days.The ship was built by Sea-Kit International, which develops vessels for the maritime and research industries, for the Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE, a competition to autonomously survey the sea bed.It can launch and recover

Composite high-speed craft designer and builder CTruk has appointed shipbuilding industry veteran Peter McIntosh OBE to succeed Andy White as chairman. McIntosh, the former executive director of VT Group PLC, holds experience of the marine and defense industries and will steer the innovative company through its next stage of growth, CTruk said. White will remain on the board as an executive director. Managing director Ben Simpson will be working closely with McIntosh on implementing…

Experience gained from four years in the offshore wind support vessel market is paying off for CTruk as it prepares to deliver SC Falcon, the company’s latest OWSV and the second CTruk 20T MPC for Sima Charters of Holland. Sea trials for the striking blue and yellow-liveried cat, the first CTruk workboat with Volvo IPS propulsion, have produced some impressive statistics. With a 25 knot cruising speed and top speed of over 30 knots, SC Falcon has satisfied Sima Charters’ Taco Davids that she is more than up to the job.

The 25% growth of Seawork, commercial marine exhibition and conference, opening for its 16th year in the Port of Southampton on Tuesday 25 June, indicates the underlying confidence of the sector. With more exhibitors from more countries occupying more space than ever before, Seawork 2013 promises to be a hub of networking activity with levels of business between the 500+ exhibitors and up to 7,000 international visitors reaching unprecedented levels over the event’s three days. Registration for marine professionals to attend the exhibition for free is now open at www.seawork.com. The range and selection of over 50 vessels moored on 250m of pontoons, specially installed alongside the Seawork Quayside, will be a major attraction for visitors.