Nichols Brothers Boat Builders awarded the contract to build MUSV NOMARS
🎯 Nichols Brothers Boat Builders (NBBB) announced the award of a contract to construct the groundbreaking No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS). This program aims to revolutionize naval operations by designing a ship that can operate autonomously for extended periods at sea without an onboard crew. This project, awarded by Serco North America, represents an exceptional opportunity for NBBB to showcase the prowess of their highly skilled team and their commitment to pushing the boundaries of maritime innovation.
🎤 Gavin Higgins CEng FRINA, CEO of Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, “We are honored to be chosen by Serco North America, the prime contractor and designer of the vessel, to embark on this innovative journey. The NOMARS program envisions a future where maritime operations can benefit from enhanced efficiency and performance through autonomous technology. This initiative aligns with our dedication to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in boat building. Our talented team of engineers, designers, and technicians is eager to demonstrate our expertise in developing cutting-edge vessels.”
🤝 NOMARS was initiated by U.S. Department of Defense Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Serco is the project leader and partners with Beier Integrated Systems, Caterpillar Inc., DRS Naval Power Systems Inc., ICE FLOE, Metron Inc., Submergence Group LLC, and Thrustmaster of Texas Inc. The designer of vessel is DLBA Naval Architects, a Gibbs & Cox Division.
⚙ As announced earlier this years MUSV to be named Defiant . The 210-metric ton MUSV-class ship aims to maximize performance, reliability, and maintenance efficiency while still carrying significant payload at tactically useful ranges. The goal is to achieve ultra-reliability objectives by integrating distributed hybrid power generation, podded propulsors, and high-capacity batteries. A key philosophy of NOMARS is “graceful degradation,” which allows individual equipment to fail over time by having enough system-level redundancy to meet full system requirements at speeds of at least 15 knots after one year at sea. The major system components of the selected design are modularized, so repairs can be conducted with equipment typically found in yacht-yards worldwide. This maintenance philosophy supports rapid turnaround, allowing the ships to spend a majority of their lifetime at sea performing missions.
📃📷 Source: Nichols Brothers Boat Builders