- Janus Marine and Nexus Remote Solutions Launch UAE’s First Open-Access ROC.
- Abu Dhabi to Host Gulf’s First Unmanned Vessel Testing and Operations Centre.
- New Remote Operations Centre in UAE to Boost Marine Autonomy Innovation.
US marine autonomy expert Janus Marine and Defense and Nexus Remote Solutions have announced they will set up the UAE’s first centre for testing, hiring, and maintaining unmanned boats. The new Remote Operations Centre (ROC) will be based at Addax Tower on Al Reem Island in Abu Dhabi and will be the first in the Gulf to be available to industry players and small- and medium-sized enterprises, reports Baird Maritime.
A Center of Innovation for Unmanned Vessel Technology
The ROC seeks to offer a platform for scale-ups and startups to innovate in unmanned surface vessels (USVs) and unmanned underwater vessels (UUVs). The developments will serve both commercial and defence applications, driving advancements in autonomous maritime technology.
Janus Marine and Defense owner Jack Dougherty highlighted the favourable regulatory environment in the UAE for uncrewed vessel operations. “The ROC will benefit from the UAE’s open policy towards USV operations in its territorial waters.” Dougherty further emphasized the UAE’s business-friendly approach, noting that it lacks the regulatory hurdles seen in other parts of the world. “The UAE offers some of the best conditions in the world for uncrewed vessel operations – being free from red tape and regulation seen elsewhere in the world.”
Filling a Market Gap in Remote Vessel Operations
Though the UAE has three remote operations centres (ROCs) to serve both the commercial and defence markets, all of them are privately owned and not open to outside contractors. The new ROC of Janus Marine–Nexus Remote Solutions aims to “fill a gap in the market” by making private companies accessible to the same advanced technology and facilities that are now only accessible to private parties.
John Woroniuk, founder of Nexus Remote Solutions, compared the ROC to an R&D centre where businesses can rent modern equipment and conduct vessel trials. “We can offer to operate manned or unmanned vessels.”
State-of-the-Art Facilities for Remote Operations
The ROC shall feature soundproof pods with three individual operator consoles in each. This arrangement will enable several pilot, technician, and payload operators to carry out simultaneous remote vessel operations, which further expand research, development, and operational capabilities.
With its strategic positioning and open-access approach, the new ROC in Abu Dhabi is set to become a major player in the development of marine autonomy and unmanned vessel technology in the Gulf.
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Source: Baird Maritime
