VIDEO: Rolls-Royce and Sea Machines Robotics to collaborate

Rolls-Royce and Sea Machines Robotics are to collaborate on comprehensive remote command, autonomous control and intelligent crew support systems for the marine market. Denise Kurtulus, Vice President Global Marine at Rolls-Royce Power Systems, and Michael Johnson, CEO and founder of Sea Machines, signed the strategic cooperation agreement at Monaco Yacht Show.

Rolls-Royce Power Systems is to collaborate with Boston-headquartered Sea Machines Robotics to offer comprehensive remote command, autonomous control and intelligent crew support systems to the marine market that will complement the MTU NautIQ marine automation portfolio.

Signed at the Monaco Yacht Show, the strategic cooperation will focus on products for remote and autonomous vessel control and situational awareness, primarily for yachts, commercial and government vessels. As part of the agreement, Rolls-Royce Power Systems will receive sales and service rights for existing and future Sea Machines products. The two companies will also work together to develop new capabilities to provide customers with advanced total solutions that aggregate and analyze all vessel data and intelligently control vessels based on this information.

“Our autonomous vessel control products and advanced perception systems are pioneering the revolutionary shift of conventional and manual vessel control effort from human to intelligent technology,” said Sea Machines founder and CEO Michael Johnson. “Autonomous systems take over routine efforts, reduce stress for crews and thus increase operational predictability and safety. The technology makes shipping more productive, economical and contributes to more sustainable operations. We partner with those best-in-class and Rolls-Royce stands out as being most trusted. We look forward to serving the market together and furthering the technology that provides solutions for customers.”

“Our aim is to offer our customers highly innovative and integrated solutions which are industry-leading—from propulsion, ship automation, bridge systems to semi and fully autonomous control systems, complemented by our digital solutions like our latest Equipment Health Management system MTU NautIQ Foresight,” said Claudius Müller, head of business development of the marine business at Rolls-Royce Power Systems, “Following the acquisition of Servowatch and the inclusion of bridge systems into our newly launched MTU NautIQ portfolio, the agreement with Sea Machines is the logical next step.”

“This partnership is a milestone for the marine industry,” said Moran David, chief commercial officer at Sea Machines. “It signifies Rolls-Royce’s trust with Sea Machines in continuing their long tradition of being at the forefront of innovation. Expanding on Sea Machines’ commercially deployed product range, the companies are already aiming at joint efforts reaching far beyond the development of autonomous ship controls. It’s an exciting time for the future of the marine industry.”

Denise Kurtulus, vice president global marine at Rolls-Royce Power Systems, said: “As part of our PS 2030 strategy, we are evolving from a propulsion supplier to a provider of integrated sustainable solutions. In the marine sector, we want to provide our customers with complete solutions from ‘bridge to propeller’ with the highest quality customers have come to expect from us. We are delighted to have found another strong and agile partner in Sea Machines to help us achieve this.”