Fleetzero announced a collaboration with Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors and Glosten to accelerate the development and deployment of integrated autonomous vessel solutions for commercial, government and defense customers.
The three companies say the combined capability has been refined through demonstrations and engineering work with organizations across the maritime sector.
Design targets for DIU and Department of War priorities
The integrated platform is engineered to address requirements outlined in areas of interest for the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and other Department of War stakeholders.
The collaboration aligns with Department of War, MARAD and Coast Guard priorities, including the Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA).
Electrified propulsion paired with autonomy control
The integrated platform is described as pairing electrified propulsion with autonomous vessel control to enhance operational effectiveness across contested littoral and blue-water environments.
It is also positioned as delivering supply chain resilience required by commercial and government customers.
Mission scope: cargo, ISR and electrified harbor craft
The combined platform addresses autonomous and remotely operated cargo operations.IoT connectivity solutions for remote operations.
It is also aimed at persistent ISR, patrol and contested logistics missions, including electrified harbor craft, tugs and coastal vessels.supply chain connectivity for logistics missions.
U.S. compliance: Jones Act, Buy American and federal fit
The platform is intended to improve operator safety and meet domestic-content, Jones Act and Buy American compliance requirements.
The collaboration is described as delivering a domestically built, autonomy-ready vessel that meets Jones Act and U.S.-content requirements for federal customers.
How the shipbuilding roles split across the trio
Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors was founded in 1989 and is based in Houma, Louisiana. The company operates new construction yards in coastal Louisiana.
Separately, the U.S. Navys Naval Sea Systems Command selected Thoma-Sea to design and build NOAA Oceanographer-class research vessels under a $178 million contract, and Thoma-Sea has delivered Navy-administered Foreign Military Sales vessels for allied customers.
In the collaboration, Fleetzeros power and autonomy systems will be integrated into Thoma-Sea-built hulls, with Glosten acting as lead naval architect for the system. Glosten integrates Fleetzeros propulsion and autonomy technologies with Thoma-Sea-built hulls and is engineering defining platform capabilities including low radar cross-section, silent transit, beach approach angles and autonomous self-withdrawals.
Walter Thomassie, Managing Director of Thoma-Sea, said: Partnering with Fleetzero and Glosten allows us to deliver the next generation of autonomous vessels with stealth capabilities ready for the missions our customers face today.
Morgan Fanberg, CEO of Glosten, added: Working with Fleetzero and Thoma-Sea, we are designing vessels that are autonomy-native from the keel up, not retrofitted as an afterthought.