RC Docks pioneering tech enabled USVs
These robotic craft are remotely controlled from the company’s state-of-the-art onshore command centres, offering both environmental and operational advantages.
With no crew on board, RC Dock ensures that all vessels meet the highest international environmental standards. To prevent any discharge of polluted water, each craft is fitted with Wave International’s Wavestream System 2 bilge filters, a solution that guarantees compliance with stringent environmental regulations.
The company’s diverse fleet of USVs is deployed globally for a wide range of tasks, including subsea data collection, maritime security, unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance, pipeline and asset protection, as well as supporting construction and decommissioning projects.
By employing unmanned vessels, RC Dock is able to deliver significant cost savings while also advancing key sustainability targets. Chief technology officer and founder Ronald Kraft estimates that carbon emissions are reduced by approximately 90% when using robotic, remotely controlled vessels. “Our vessels are much smaller and lighter than their manned counterparts. Without the need for crew accommodation, facilities, and services, we can design vessels with smaller engines and integrate renewable energy systems,” Kraft explains. “This approach significantly enhances environmental protection while delivering substantial cost savings for our clients.”
Given that RC Dock’s vessels operate worldwide, the company ensures that every craft is built to the highest manufacturing standards and type approvals. This includes equipping all vessels with Wavestream System 2 oily water bilge filter systems. Each vessel is designed with full redundancy, featuring a second fully operational system on board. The flow rate and output from the Wavestream Systems are monitored remotely, with an automatic switchover to the reserve system if required.
Wavestream System 2 is part of a comprehensive range of bilge water filtration systems, employing cartridges with a unique filter media that captures and retains pollutants. The system ensures that only clean water, containing less than five parts per million of oil, is discharged overboard. It is effective in filtering oils, fuels, microplastics, fibres, and heavy metals, and can adsorb up to three times its own weight in oil and other contaminants. The system is Lloyd’s Register Type Approved, underscoring its effectiveness and compliance with industry standards.
“As our vessels operate unmanned and offshore for an average of 25 days, we prioritise contingency planning and integrate the highest standard of environmental protection,” Kraft adds. “We selected Wave International’s Wavestream System 2 because of its Lloyd’s approval and the dedicated service support provided by Technautic BV in the Netherlands.”
RC Dock’s vessels are available for purchase or lease, with additional services including remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), and purpose-built R-USV motherships. The company also offers consultancy in AI-driven operating systems and Quantum Cryptography-as-a-Service to address security vulnerabilities in real-time operations. “We are committed to delivering solutions that not only drive significant environmental savings but also contribute to a safer maritime industry,” Kraft concludes.