The UK is looking for a remote-controlled surface vessel able to lift a 1,000kg mass from the seabed and that can fit inside a shipping container.
According to a contract tender notice, Dstl is seeking to procure a proven commercial off-the-shelf or modified commercial off-the-shelf boat that meets the following requirements.
- The system and all subsystems shall be capable of operating under remote control by a human within line of sight.
- Meets UK existing and planned Maritime Regulations (MCA) for remote controlled / autonomous platforms.
- Shall fit inside a 20ft ISO container (disassembled if required)
- Shall have the buoyancy and configuration to enable a winch (GFE) to lift a 1000kg mass (with a 400kg safety factor) from the seabed to 3m below the craft.
- Must be able to transit 10 miles from point of departure to recovery location at 6 knots, loiter for up to 8hrs in a two knot current and sea-state F3, transit 10 miles back.
- Must be capable of dynamic station-keeping (location and heading) over a given point in sea-state F3 within a 5m radius
The deadline for submissions is the 6th of August 2022.
What would this be used for? Mine recovery or Bomb Disposal?
Perhaps small unmanned subs.
What weighs 1000kg that a winch could get hold of from an unmanned boat? I know nothing about this. Would it use different attachments? Like big magnet, grabber, hook. Very interesting. Oh and all to fit in a 20ft container, wow
What have they lost now?
exactly what I was thinking …The Remote Control must be crap …or maybe the batteries ran out …
looks like its for mine clearance or ROVs
very short timescale to submit a bid
I’d like to submit my bid:
I’ll back that bid farouk, 2 always my favourite Thunderbird.
🤣🇬🇧🤣🇬🇧🤣
Is this not Boxer 30 years in advance
…… change the bit in the middle..👍
😎
Couple of questions.
1. What weights 1000kg and would be sitting on the seabed?
2. Why RC and not autonomous?
Admirals Wallet, so no one gets to see what’s within 😉
Good questions.
The Russians have long used seabed crawler vehicles – remember the tracks the Swedish Navy discovered on the seabed near one of their naval bases in the 1980’s, I think?
Prehaps we want to be able to ‘recover’ one of them! The RC would avoid putting the anybody at risk in case the recovered (swiped!) vehicle is booby trapped! Protecting our undersea infrstructure is a declared priority after all. 😎😀
Cheers CR
Well a quick search online the UK military doesn’t use sea mines anymore, so there’s no chance this is for mine recovery. Also a freedom of information search states there are no sea mines left over from previous wars in UK waters, surely dispelling that this is for a recovery operation. Clearly then as you stated this is for some sort of covert recovery of unknown foreign assets? My other question then would be then from what platform would we launch such a craft? Surely if intended to recover enemy assets then would only be submarine launched? Perhaps it’s intended… Read more »
As dstl are buying this I suggest it is for research and development purposes. If they can actually make it work as a deployable capability then, if I remember rightly, I think the MRSS vessels are to have a role in protecting our key assets… So sometime by the end of the decade – may be!
Cheers CR
The only reason for this is to do with handling something explosive. Human control within Line of Sight is the key bit…i.e. not that ambitious, but for a job where we want people as far away as possible.