OceanAlpha L42B Marine Survey Uncrewed Surface Vessel Receives Approval in Principle from Bureau Veritas

On October 16, Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore presented an Approval in Principle (AiP) certificate to OceanAlpha for the design of its L42B uncrewed surface vessel (USV), developed for offshore hydrographic and geophysical survey operations. 

The AiP, followed a review of the vessel's design and proposed operations against BV's NI 641 guidelines for autonomous shipping. The assessment covered the L42B's general arrangement, communications and control architecture, and defined operating scenarios. BV concluded that the proposed design did not conflict with the applicable rules within the scope of its review.

As part of the certification process, BV worked closely with OceanAlpha to assess the vessel's design integrity, autonomous systems, operational safety framework and intended operating scenarios. The review also considered harbor maneuvering in complex traffic, including docking and undocking, as well as open-sea survey and transit operations. These scenarios involve continuous operator supervision and remote control from either a shore-based control center or a support vessel. The AiP applies to the defined operating conditions and includes technical recommendations for further development. 

The L42B is an 8.51-metre aluminium catamaran designed for marine survey missions. Its modular payload platform can accommodate multibeam echo sounders, side-scan sonars and magnetometers for seabed mapping, subsea pipeline surveys and environmental monitoring. Under still-water conditions at an operating speed of four knots, the vessel is designed for missions lasting up to eight days, with a stated maximum range of 1,500 kilometers.

The vessel combines diesel generators, electric propulsion and lithium iron phosphate batteries. Multiple communication links support remotely supervised operations in coastal and offshore environments, enabling operators to monitor navigation and intervene when required. These capabilities are intended to increase deployment flexibility and help reduce personnel exposure during offshore survey activities.



Pinestone Shi, General Manager of OceanAlpha, said: “Receiving AiP from Bureau Veritas is a remarkable milestone in the development of the L42B. The independent review provides valuable technical feedback as we continue to refine the vessel’s design and remote-operation capabilities. Our focus remains on delivering reliable, practical USV products and solutions for marine survey customers worldwide.”