Boston-based technology and shipbuilding company Blue Water Autonomy has introduced the Liberty Class, a 190-foot autonomous surface vessel built for the United States Navy. It was developed with private capital and involved more than 100 suppliers, including Dutch shipbuilding company Damen and Conrad Shipyard. Named after the mass-produced Liberty Ships built during World War II, the Liberty Class is a steel vessel designed for long deployments. It has a range of more than 10,000 nautical miles and can carry over 150 metric tons of payload. The ship is made to support missions involving missiles, sensors, and logistics equipment, and can operate at sea for as long as three months without a crew on board. The vessel’s design is based on Damen’s Stan Patrol 6009 platform, which uses the company’s Axe Bow hull form. That bow shape is designed to cut through waves more cleanly and reduce impact in rough water. More than 300 ships around the world have this hull design. Blue Water Autonomy redesigned the ship’s internal mechanical and electrical systems for autonomous operation. For example, there are no crew quarters, eliminating the need for onboard plumbing and heating systems typically required on crewed vessels.

Full report : Blue Water Autonomy is developing a new naval vessel, in partnership with Damen Shipyards, that can be built and deployed at immense speed.

For more see the OODA Company Profile on Blue Water Autonomy.