News: Northwind Develops Unmanned Surveillance Boat

Air dropable, ship deployable and multi-mission configurable, Northwind Marine's unmanned surface vehicle (USV); the SeaFox is a little package designed to deliver multiple capabilities for the expanding requirements of fleet and port security.

Originally commissioned through the Office of Naval Research (ONR) Tech Solutions Program for towing air gunnery training targets at 40 knots, the 16 x 5-ft. Northwind Marine Inc. engineered, alternative fuels USV, is compact and capable of carrying relatively large payloads.

"The SeaFox can easily handle 600 pounds of additional gear," said Bruce Reagan President of Northwind Marine Inc. "Together, the swimmer detection, cameras, radar total far less weight than what can be put into this boat." "The surveillance and intelligence applications are endless," he added. "You can sit in your Seattle office with your laptop, drive around New York harbor and see if anyone is swimming around or watch the dock workers."

"We're not trying to reinvent the wheel, just put together mission specific packages that can do what is needed to save lives and, although I hate to use the term, build it to whereas it's almost 'disposable' in comparison to other USV's." The first SeaFox was introduced at the 2003 MACC. Designed to operate at 40 knots in sea state 3 with a 200-hp JP5 engine, the vessel is built in accordance to ABS specifications and welded to U.S. Coast Guard inspection standards. Along with Northwind Marine's proprietary all-welded, slot-woven integrated framing, the 0.25 in. aluminum hull plating can withstand the abuse of constant full-throttle military use.