Both parties emphasize that the current containerized LARS solution is only the beginning of a broader collaboration. Royal IHC and Demcon unmanned systems share an ambitious vision for the future in which scalability, industrialization, and sustainable deployment of autonomous systems are central. Their common goal is to lower the threshold for large-scale, safe, and future-proof deployment of USVs, UUVs, and automation solutions.
Royal IHC contributes its expertise as a high-tech system integrator and shipbuilder for complex and automated work vessels. Demcon unmanned systems adds its innovative technologies and experience in the field of remote control and autonomous unmanned vessels. Together, they form a solid foundation for a clear vision of growth towards multiple smaller and larger autonomous vessels in the future.
“This Dutch collaboration is an important step towards the future for us, allowing us to make optimal use of each other’s competencies. Starting with LARS solutions for our USV portfolio is a logical first step, as it enables us to deploy our vessels more efficiently and on a larger scale. This makes it possible to deploy unmanned vessels quickly and safely from workboats, pontoons, and other equipment. This increases deployability and opens up new areas of application, which will further accelerate the adoption of these innovations and increase their added value,” commented Fedor Ester, Managing Director and Co-founder of Demcon unmanned systems.
Derk te Bokkel, CEO of Royal IHC, said: “This is a natural fit: our vision is shared, our technologies plug in seamlessly, and our markets amplify each other. Together we can move maritime autonomy from promising pilots to industrial scale.”
As two Dutch pioneers, the partnership between Royal IHC and Demcon unmanned systems marks an important step in the continuous innovation and industrialization of autonomous maritime operations.
