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Maritime engineering and classification company Lloyd’s Register certified Exail’s DriX maritime drone, their first uncrewed surface vessel certification.
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Exail explained that the DriX vessel is currently in use by large energy companies and has received Bureau Veritas Approval in Principle.
The certification confirms that the uncrewed surface vessel (USV) has met critical maritime safety requirements, undertaking a detailed system level analysis, construction survey and sea trials.
It also tested structure integrity, stability and supervised autonomy.
Exail was formed when ECA Group and iXblue merged earlier in the year as a subsidiary of Groupe Gorge.
“At Exail, we are closely involved in developing maritime drones’ regulations, trying to raise the standards and acceptance of USVs,” explains Stéphane Vannuffelen, marine autonomy technical director at Exail.
“By working together with class societies such as Lloyd’s Register, that attest of maritime drones’ highest levels of safety and environmental compliance, we aim to demonstrate that autonomous technologies are safe to deploy and operate.
“Through such collaborations, we hope to be able to help strengthen the global acceptance of maritime drones within our industries, as they support operational efficiency, as well as a safe, sustainable maritime energy transition.”
[Related: Exail wins French USV contract]
