OceanAlpha has received an Approval in Principle (AiP) from Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore for the design of the unmanned surface vessel L42B. This vessel is designed to conduct hydrographic and geological operations at sea.
Issuance Date and Design Evaluation
The issuance date of this certificate was July 31, 2026, following a review of the vessel's design and its proposed operations based on Bureau Veritas's NI 641 guidelines for autonomous shipping. The evaluation included a review of the overall vessel arrangement, communication and control architecture, and defined operational scenarios. Bureau Veritas concluded that the proposed design does not conflict with the relevant regulations within its scope of review.
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Features of the L42B Vessel
The L42B vessel, which is 8.51 meters long and features an aluminum catamaran design, is intended for marine survey missions. Its modular payload platform can accommodate multi-beam echo sounders, side scan sonars, and magnetometers for seabed mapping, underwater pipeline inspection, and environmental monitoring. The vessel is capable of conducting missions for up to eight days in calm water conditions and at an operational speed of four knots, with a maximum range of 1500 kilometers.
The L42B vessel combines diesel generators, electric propulsion systems, and lithium iron phosphate batteries. Several communication links support remote monitoring operations in coastal and marine environments, allowing operators to monitor navigation and intervene if necessary. These capabilities enhance flexibility in deployment and reduce personnel exposure to risk in marine survey activities.
The certificate presentation ceremony took place on October 16, 2026, attended by Mr. Maciej Lepicki, Vice President of Greater China from Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore, and Mr. Pinston Shi, CEO of OceanAlpha.
Mr. Pinston Shi stated at the ceremony: "Receiving AiP from Bureau Veritas is a significant milestone in the development of the L42B. The independent review provides valuable technical feedback that enables us to continue optimizing the vessel design and remote operational capabilities. Our focus remains on delivering reliable and practical USV products and solutions for marine survey customers worldwide."
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