Autonomy must be at the heart of our reaction to growing threats to subsea critical national infrastructure, states Matthew Ratsey, the founder of a UK marine tech firm. He points out that as adversaries become more adept at exploiting weaknesses in existing systems, embracing cutting-edge technology is now more critical than ever.

Ratsey, founder and managing director of Zero USV, a subsidiary of MSubs that specialises in uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) and artificial intelligence, has highlighted the urgent need for advanced maritime solutions to protect vital assets such as undersea cables and offshore installations.
Also read: NATO launches mission to protect subsea infrastructure
Embracing the latest technologies
‘We’re dealing with a rapidly evolving threat landscape, in which adversaries are using advanced technologies to target national (and international) subsea infrastructure and to test subsea resilience,’ explains Ratsey. ‘From undersea cables and pipelines to offshore platforms, the range of vulnerabilities is expanding rapidly. However, the British maritime community has always shown remarkable innovation and resilience in the face of change, and this adaptability will be crucial in countering these increasingly brazen attempts to test our defences.’
He adds: ‘To ensure we remain firmly on the front foot against these threats, we need to embrace the latest leading-edge technologies, not least autonomy and AI, which are force multipliers when resources are already desperately stretched. By harnessing real-world expertise from maritime operators and pairing it with cutting-edge innovations – particularly autonomous vessels and marine intelligence – we can anticipate, detect, and deter hostile activities. Working closely with government, the maritime sector can help shape robust, future-proof defence strategies that don’t leave us constantly reacting to new tactics.’
‘This means developing policies that encourage much more collaboration, ensuring the industry has access to advanced technology and training, and maintaining regular dialogue between all stakeholders. By building on this shared commitment, we can keep our seas safe and protect the infrastructure that underpins our economy and national wellbeing,’ concludes Ratsey.
Also read: Two subsea cables damaged in Baltic Sea
Oceanus12
An example of a USV that could be used to protect subsea infrastructure is Zero USV’s Oceanus12. This 12-metre, fully autonomous USV is designed for over the horizon autonomous operations. It is powered by an electric-hybrid power train with 100 per cent redundancy. The vessels have twin, commercially rated, 40-kW electric drives linked to twin 21-kW lithium batteries and powered by twin 22-kW marine diesel generators powering a 400-V system.
The generators can run off HVO (hydrogenated vegetable oil) as well as regular marine diesel. At a cruising speed of seven knots the vessels have an operational range of about 2200 nautical miles. Whilst at lower survey speeds of three to four knots this range increases to in excess of 3500 nautical miles.
Picture: Oceanus12 developed by Zero USV (picture by Zero USV).
Also read: Fugro pioneers uncrewed subsea inspections in Brazil