Cambridge drives new wave of marine CleanTech

Radar technology from Cambridge Pixel – set to be deployed in a major project in Australia – is tipped to have a major beneficial impact on the carbon footprint of marine industries.

The company is supplying software to SEA-KIT in Essex to enhance the operation of its Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs).

Engineers at SEA-KIT’s headquarters in Tollesbury, Essex needed trusted and customisable digital technology to relay radar and situational awareness information from its remotely operated USVs to a Remote-Control Centre. 

The first of the SEA-KIT X class USVs built for Fugro, utilising Cambridge Pixel’s SPx Server technology, is being prepared for project work in Australia and will feature remotely operated vehicle and autonomous underwater vehicle launch-and-recovery systems and station-keeping capabilities. 

The vessel will be used to conduct completely uncrewed ROV pipeline inspections in up to 400m water depth on Australia’s North West Shelf. 

SEA-KIT USVs consume up to 95 per cent less fuel than traditional crewed vessels, supporting international ambitions for net zero global emissions in the marine industry.

SEA-KIT chose Cambridge Pixel’s SPx Server technology due to its bandwidth management tools, data processing and filtering tools and because the software could be easily integrated with SEA-KIT’s GSAVI package and situational awareness software. 

Cambridge Pixel’s software components allow the vessels that SEA-KIT designs and builds to operate effectively even in very low bandwidth situations, such as when out at sea in harsh weather.