With certificate of registry in place, 7-meter USV first uncrewed seagoing vessel to fly Dutch flag

VO:X Barentsz, the fifth uncrewed survey vessel (USV) developed through the joint effort of Dutch Van Oord and DEMCON Unmanned Systems, has secured a certificate of registry in the Netherlands, becoming the first uncrewed seagoing vessel to fly the Dutch flag.

VO:X Barentsz, Van Oord’s first USV specialized for operations at sea, is seven meters long and is designed for challenging offshore conditions, supporting dredging, offshore wind and maritime infrastructure projects.

“This significant achievement will drive further development in the field. A vessel is allowed to fly the flag of a country once that country issues a certificate of registry. This connection between the vessel and the flag state forms the basis of the applicable maritime law on board the vessel,” Van Oord announced.

According to Van Oord, VO:X Barentsz is an evolution of the four previous USVs, building upon the same hardware and software USV platform system and expanding with new technologies and more functionalities for offshore operations.

The USV was christened on April 25, 2024, at the Van Oord head office jetty in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

DEMCON Unmanned Systems recently became the first USV developer and manufacturer in the Netherlands to obtain the DNV Type Approval certification for its DUS V5750 USV. The certification is said to enable serial production of the V5750 USV type, further advancing its commercial viability.