UNCREWED SURFACE VESSEL TRIALS 17 MARCH - 9 MAY 2025

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the King’s Harbour Master that Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) trials will be conducted in Portsmouth Harbour, Hayling Bay and Ryde Middle areas during the period 17 March to 9 May 2025.

 

2.  USV operations may involve the trialling of several craft. The USV will be accompanied by XV PATRICK BLACKETT, a Royal Navy (RN) PAC 24 or a RN VAHANNA workboat which will act as safety vessels. The trial staff operators will be embarked on a support vessel and will intervene in the event of any safety issues.

 

3.    The vessels will be launched from HMS Warrior slipway and operated in remote/autonomous mode, by day and night, on transit and in either Portsmouth Harbour, Hayling Bay or Ryde Middle areas. Where possible, the USVs will maintain a minimum 200-metre separation from other craft, and trial runs will be modified or aborted if a close-quarters situation is developing.

 

4. The assigned safety vessels will be listening on VHF Ch 11, 12, 72 and 16.

 

5. All trials vessels will obey the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth Order 2005 and International Rules for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs) at all times.

 

6. Cancel this LNTM on 10 May 2025.