Keyless navigation, BES Unmanned sea vessels

2025

In Russia, presented a bookless boat "Youth-82" with a round-the-world range

In December 2025, Russian specialists presented the Yunost-82 keyless boat, capable of making multiple round-the-world crossings. The development was announced by Dmitry Kuzyakin, general designer of the Center for Complex Unmanned Solutions (CCBR). Read more here.

In the Arkhangelsk region, cargo began to be delivered on unmanned boats

On November 14, 2025, the Governor of the Arkhangelsk Region Alexander Tsybulsky met with the Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation Andrei Nikitin to discuss the prospects for the development of the transport complex of Pomerania, paying special attention to the innovative direction - marine unmanned systems. Read more here.

An algorithm has been developed that increases the accuracy of the movement of a driverless boat in difficult weather

Specialists of the St. Petersburg State Marine Technical University, together with the developers of marine IT solutions Sitronics KT (part of the Sitronics Group), have developed an algorithm that increases the accuracy of keeping an unpackaged boat on a trajectory in case of excitement. Sitronics announced this on October 22, 2025. [1]Подробнее #.2A_.D0.98.D1.81.D0.BF.D1.8B.D1.82.D0.B0.D0.BD.D0.B8.D1.8F_.D0.B0.D0.BB.D0.B3.D0.BE.D1.80.D0.B8.D1.82.D0.BC.D0.B0.2C_.D0.BF.D0.BE.D0.B2.D1.8B.D1.88.D0.B0.D1.8E.D1.89.D0.B5.D0.B3.D0.BE_.D1.82.D0.BE.D1.87.D0.BD.D0.BE.D1.81.D1.82.D1.8C_.D0.B4.D0.B2.D0.B8.D0.B6.D0.B5.D0.BD.D0.B8.D1.8F_.D0.B1.D0.B5.D0.B7.D1.8D.D0.BA.D0.B8.D0.BF.D0.B0.D0.B6.D0.BD.D0.BE.D0.B3.D0.BE_.D0.BA.D0.B0.D1.82.D0.B5.D1.80.D0.B0_.D0.B2_.D1.81.D0.BB.D0.BE.D0.B6.D0.BD.D1.83.D1.8E_.D0.BF.D0.BE.D0.B3.D0.BE.D0.B4.D1.83 здесь.

Presented a Russian keyless boat for work on the Northern Sea Route

In September 2025, the Russian company NPK Progress LLC introduced the "Heroes of the Fog" keyless boat, designed to deliver goods to remote and inaccessible areas of the Murmansk region and work on the Northern Sea Route. The vessel is capable of transporting cargo weighing up to one ton and is controlled remotely through a command and telemetry channel using satellite communication systems. Read more here.

Presented the first in Russia sea drone with fiber optic control

The Novgorod Research and Production Center "Ushkuynik" demonstrated the first sea keyless boat in Russia with control through a fiber optic cable, abandoning traditional radio communication channels. The innovative control system is based on an optical cable unwinding during movement, which provides stable communication with an unmanned boat in electronic countermeasures. The development presentation took place on September 10, 2025. Read more here.

In Russia, released a system of protection against sea drones "Aurelia"

Russian experts have completed the development of the latest system of protection against offshore non-offshore vehicles called Aurelia, designed to protect strategic facilities in the coastal zone. Successful tests of the complex took place in the waters of the Gulf of Finland with the participation of representatives of the Russian Navy. The presentation of the system took place in September 2025 in Veliky Novgorod. Read more here

The first Russian passenger unmanned boat presented

By order of the Ministry of Transport of Russia, the Russian University of Transport has developed the first domestic autonomous passenger ship based on the Volzhanka six-seater boat. The Association "Digital Transport and Logistics" conducted demonstration tests of unmanned water transport on the Moscow River with the participation of passengers. The vessel is capable of operating both in remote control mode from the shore and completely autonomously along a given route. Testing took place on September 3, 2025. Read more here

Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov: Mass production of unmanned boats launched in Russia

Mass production of unmanned boats has been launched in Russia. Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov said this in an interview with TASS in early September 2025.

Yes, of course, there is, and according to a wide line, which is mass-produced. They are constantly being finalized, modernized. A number of samples were demonstrated to our president a certain time ago, "Manturov said, answering the question of whether there is a production of sea-free boats in Russia.

Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov

As the Deputy Prime Minister noted, unmanned vessels are already supplied to the Russian army, as well as to other law enforcement agencies that actively use such boats to perform special tasks.

At the end of August 2025, for the first time, Russian troops successfully used a keyless boat (BEC) to destroy a ship of the Ukrainian Navy. Denis Fedutinov, an expert on unmanned systems, told TASS about this.

This is the first case officially confirmed by the Russian Ministry of Defense when our keyless boat hit a Ukrainian Navy ship, the agency's interlocutor said.

According to him, driverless boats open up new horizons in the development of weapons. This is a promising direction for creating asymmetric means of military equipment, and he expressed confidence that in the future Russian forces will use such boats more often and more efficiently, the expert said.

Military expert Vasily Dandykin also commented on the successful attack of the Russian driverless boat on the ship of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

This is probably the first combat use of our keyless boat. At exercises in the Baltic, for example, it was used against targets, "he told the publication News.ru.

It was a baptism of fire, and after the destruction of the Simferopol medium reconnaissance ship, Ukraine lost its only major ship, Dundykin added.^[1]

In Russia, presented a military UAV "Chernika" for the destruction of unsecured boats at sea

Russian engineers are testing a new naval modification of the Chernik-2 unmanned aerial vehicle, designed to combat Ukrainian driverless boats. The flying wing drone was developed by Moscow specialists and is undergoing an approbation stage for use against enemy naval unmanned weapons. This became known on August 24, 2025. Read more here.

In Russia, launch the production of unsecured boats with a carrying capacity of up to 1.5 tons

Sitronics KT has announced the imminent start of the production of keyless boats with a carrying capacity of 550 kilograms to 1.5 tons to solve logistics tasks for the delivery of goods in river and sea waters. The project is being implemented jointly with the St. Petersburg boat manufacturer Bot-Trade LLC under the Fortis Marine brand with plans to enter small-scale production. Information about the new direction was released on August 20, 2025. Read more here.

An unmanned submarine is presented, which is controlled from a distance of 16 thousand km

In mid-August 2025, the Royal British Navy demonstrated an unmanned submarine Excalibur, which is designed for surveillance, reconnaissance activities and other tasks. The peculiarity of the vessel is that it can be controlled "from the other end of the world" - from a distance of 16 thousand kilometers. Read more here

Kingisepp Machine-Building Plant launched a center for the production of sea drones

The Kingisepp Machine-Building Plant, a military-industrial holding, has opened a single center for the production of sea drones for civilian purposes, including work with administrations, the Ministry of Emergencies and Rostransnadzor to ensure keyless operation and control of water bodies. The center has already been launched and is actively producing products, it is planned to produce several dozen sea drones for civilian purposes. This was announced in mid-July 2025 by the managing director of KMZ Mikhail Danilenko. Read more here.

In the Far East opened the first landfill for testing non-skidding boats

The first test site for keyless boats in the Far East has been opened in the south of Sakhalin. The new water body is designed to test robotic vessels and work out algorithms for their interaction with unmanned aerial vehicles in a difficult maritime situation. The opening of the landfill on June 24, 2025 was announced by the press service of the government of the Sakhalin region. Read more here.

The first unmanned boat of the transport police was launched in Moscow

The transport police, together with the Moscow Department of Transport, launched the first keyless boat to patrol the Moscow River. Testing of innovative water transport began in May 2025 at the Southern River Station of the capital, said the official representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia Irina Volk. Read more here

In Russia, developed a keyless boat from which you can launch a kamikaze drone

At the end of April 2025, it became known that the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) "Starling-Navy" was modernized for use in a complex with driverless boats (BEC). In such a bundle, the drone will be able to be used to strike at coastal military facilities, as well as to organize ambushes on sea routes. Read more here

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation presented a keyless boat "Water"

In May 2025, the Russian Ministry of Defense presented a new development - the universal equipless boat "Water." The apparatus, created at the F.F. Ushakov Baltic Higher Naval School, was demonstrated at the bottom of the innovation of the military department. The main feature of the boat is its modular design, which allows it to quickly adapt it to various combat, search and transport tasks. Read more here.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation has created a structure for the development and production of sea drones

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the creation of a new specialized unit - the Technical Council for the Development of Unmanned Systems and Technologies for Marine Use. This interdepartmental working group will deal with the accelerated development and commissioning of advanced marine unmanned systems for the Navy. This became known on April 22, 2025. Read more here.

Investments worth 150 billion rubles. An unmanned center will be built in the largest port in Russia to increase cargo flows

On February 11, 2025, the Association of Exporters and Importers (AEI) of Russia spoke about the initiative to create an unmanned transport and logistics center in the Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port in the Krasnodar Territory. It is assumed that this will solve the problem of the shortage of throughput capacity of the facility. Read more here.

Production of underwater sapper robots launched in Russia

On January 29, 2025, the Roselectronics holding began mass production of television systems for underwater robotic systems capable of detecting mines at a depth of several hundred meters in 2025. Read more here

2024

Start of commercial operation. The ferry is operated from a distance of 600 km

In early October 2024 Stockholm , it became possible to remotely control the ferry from a distance of 600 km. This world's first autonomous electric ferry has been put into commercial service and is designed to carry passengers between the islands of the archipelago. More here

A single center for the production of unmanned boats is being created in St. Petersburg

At the end of September 2024, it became known about the creation in St. Petersburg of a production site for sea drones on the basis of the Kingisepp Machine-Building Plant (KMZ) military-industrial holding. The project is scheduled for 2025. Read more here.

In Russia, they began to produce robotic boats for cleaning garbage in the water. PHOTO

In mid-September 2024, it became known that Russian researchers from the Polytechnic Institute of Sevastopol State University (SevSU) developed a robotic boat called the Sea Scorpion, which is designed to clean up garbage on the water. The device is able to collect branches and various waste, as well as get rid of oil slicks. Read more here

Presented the Russian complex "Komar" for the destruction of sea drones

In June 2024, the Almaz-Antey East Kazakhstan concern presented a modernized Komar turret installation 3M47-03E capable of destroying not only air drones, but also sea drones. Read more here.

In Russia, presented a surface drone on solar and wind energy

In Russia, a surface drone operating on solar and wind energy is presented. The drone, developed by SR Space's holding subsidiary SR Drones, successfully passed its first tests on June 27, 2024, confirming its effectiveness and environmental friendliness. Read more here.

Navy ships received complexes that allow them to "see" unmanned boats from afar

At the end NAVY of June 2024, it became known that Russian ships will receive the latest radio monitoring systems capable of detecting unmanned boats at a considerable distance. These systems are designed by domestic specialists to ensure the safety of the fleet in the face of growing geopolitical tensions. More. here

Katran Hunter presented in Russia to combat surface drones

At the end of June 2024, the Leningrad Shipyard Pell"" presented a high-speed boat called the Katran Hunter, which is also designed to combat surface drones. The task of the vessel is to protect the near sea zone. here More.

Presented a Russian unmanned helicopter that can detect unsecured boats

At the end of June 2024, a Russian unmanned VT-30Ye helicopter was presented in Kronstadt, capable of detecting and tracking marine driverless boats in a given water area. The new development of the research and production enterprise "Radar mms" is designed to increase the effectiveness of monitoring of marine spaces and provide round-the-clock monitoring of the marine situation. Read more here

Presented the Russian keyless boat "Orkan" with a driving range of 500 km

On June 19, 2024, Rosoboronexport, part of the Rostec state corporation, presented the Orkan multipurpose equipless boat. This is the basic platform for the creation of a marine robotic complex. Read more here

In Russia, a keyless boat "Vodomerka" is presented to protect the ships of the Navy

On June 24, 2024, it became known that a new multifunctional driverless boat "Vodomerka" was presented in Kronstadt. Developed by Aviation and Marine Electronics from St. Petersburg, the boat is designed to scout and protect ships of the Navy of the Russian Federation from enemy naval drones. Read more here

Unsecured boats for the delivery of goods were launched on Sakhalin. Video

In the Sakhalin region, the first keyless boat was presented, designed to deliver goods, the press service of the Government of the Sakhalin Region reports on June 17, 2024. Read more here.

Russian KMZ presented a keyless boat "Vizir-2M," operating in high winds

The Kingisepp Machine-Building Plant (KMZ) in June 2024 presented its new hydrographic keyless boat "Vizir-2M." This boat is equipped with a gyro-stabilized high-sensitivity platform developed by KMZ specialists, which allows it to operate effectively in conditions of strong wind and sea unrest. Read more here.

Russian military began to use a naval boat-kamikaze

In mid-May 2024, it became known about the first use of the Russian Sea-Free Boat (BEC) in the zone of the special military operation of the Russian Federation in Ukraine. We are talking about the project of engineers "There for fogs" from the Tula region. The project is implemented with assistance of the Russian Defense Ministry. Read more here.

Presented the Russian keyless boat "Sardine"

In May 2024, the St. Petersburg company Navis presented the Sardine keyless boat. According to the manufacturer, the new vessel will differ from its well-known domestic counterparts in its non-standard design and hull shape. Read more here.

In Russia, released an underwater drone "Marlin - KN"

The Russian Maritime Register of Shipping issued a classification certificate for the Marlin-KN remote-controlled uninhabited underwater vehicle (TNPA) manufactured by Tetis Pro JSC. This was announced in April 2024 by the press service of the department. Read more here.

2023

The first unmanned ferry was launched in Russia

In Russia, the commercial operation of the first sea vessel in remote control mode began: the ferry "General Chernyakhovsky" began an autonomous flight. Such information was shared with TAdviser on December 19, 2023 by representatives of the Digital Transport and Logistics Association. Read more here.

Production of the first sea drones launched in Russia

At the end of November 2023, the KMZ holding (Kingisepp Machine-Building Plant) announced the start of the production of the first in Russia non-ship boats (sea drones). The company is going to begin deliveries of these products for the Ministry of Defense by the end of 2023. This will be the first batch of naval drones that will be tested in the zone of the military special operation of the Russian Federation in Ukraine. Read more here.

Rosmorport registered the first unmanned ferries in Russia

Rosmorport registered the first unmanned ferries in Russia. The press service of the enterprise announced this on October 3, 2023. Read more here.

Unmanned kamikaze boat "Vizir" presented in Russia

Kingisepp Machine-Building Plant (KMZ) has developed an unmanned kamikaze boat "Vizir" and is now negotiating with the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation on the supply of such drones. This became known on September 11, 2023. Read more here.

World's first unmanned ferry launched

In early June 2023, the Norwegian company Torghatten introduced the autonomous passenger ferry Estelle, which does not need a captain. The cost of the vessel is $1.6 million, the initiative to organize the crossing was the result of private and public cooperation and was partially funded by the EU. Read more here.

Russia has developed "vision" for unmanned river and sea vessels

The Russian company RobBotKraft has created a device that will allow boats and boats to recognize dangerous objects. This was announced at the beginning of May 2023 to RIA Novosti by the press service of the NTI Project Support Fund. Read more here.

China launches first unmanned reconnaissance vessel

In mid-January 2023, China commissioned the world's first fully automated research vessel. Read more here.

2022

World's first unmanned electric ferry commissioned

An unmanned electric passenger ferry, said to be the first of its kind, was commissioned in Norway on 27 September 2022. The vessel was developed by the team of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), it was called MilliAmpere 2. Read more here.

The first Russian drone ship went to Sevastopol

At the end of August 2022, the first Russian drone ship, Pioneer-M, built for Sevastopol State University at the Central Nevsky Shipyard in St. Petersburg, went to Sevastopol. Read more here.

Sitronics KT will make autonomous ferries connecting the Kaliningrad and Leningrad regions

Sitronics KT (part of Sitronics Group) will equip ferries belonging to Rosmorport with a complex of systems for autonomous navigation on the Ust-Luga-Baltiysk line. According to the concluded contract, work is planned to be completed in the third quarter of 2023. This was announced on June 7, 2022 by Sitronics. Read more here.

China launches world's first unmanned drone ship

On May 19, 2022, China unveiled the world's first semi-autonomous unmanned drone ship. The research vessel, created by Huangpu-Wenchong Shipyard, will transport, launch, restore and coordinate more than 50 other autonomous air, surface and underwater vehicles. Read more here.

Unmanned container ship began to sail in Japan

At the end of January 2022, in Japan, the world's first unmanned container ship made the transition between two ports. The pilot project was implemented by logistics giant Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, a group of Japanese companies led by the Nippon Foundation investment fund. Read more here.

Hyundai Heavy will send the world's first drone cargo ship on a transoceanic flight

Hyundai Heavy will send a drone cargo ship on the first transoceanic flight in the first quarter. This became known on January 7, 2022. Read more here.

2021: Russia's first unmanned research vessel launched

On September 24, 2021, the ceremony of launching the first unmanned vessel in Russia took place in St. Petersburg. It was called "Pioneer-M" and is intended for research work. Read more here.

2020

Rosmorport began testing unmanned vessels

In mid-November 2020, Rosmorport announced the start of testing an unmanned vessel. We are talking about a soil removal shalanda called "Worker," on which special control equipment is installed. Read more here.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade approved the provisions on the launch of unmanned vessels

On September 22, 2020, it became known that the Ministry of Industry and Trade approved the provisions on the launch of unmanned vessels. Their tests will begin in the next 11 constituent entities of Russia: Astrakhan Region, Kaliningrad Region, Krasnodar Territory, Leningrad Region, Magadan Region, Murmansk Region, Primorsky Territory, Rostov Region, St. Petersburg, Sakhalin Region and Khabarovsk Territory.

It is assumed that the Ministry of Industry and Trade will be able to use the test results when organizing the production and installation of automatic and remote control systems on sea and river vessels.

The experiment, which will last until the end of 2025, will be attended by the Mikhail Ulyanov tanker (Sovcomflot), which makes regular flights between Murmansk and the Prirazlomnaya MLSP, and the Paul Anfisa dry cargo ship (Pola Rise), which will operate regular flights in the waters of the Black and Caspian Seas, as well as a bundle from the soil haulage barge Rabochaya and dredger Redut (Rosmort).

The main goal of the project is that from January 2021 any shipping company can equip its merchant or technical vessel under the flag of Russia with autonomous navigation systems and legally use them in regular commercial activities, explained Alexander Pinsky, general director of the MariNet industry center of the National Technology Initiative.

We do not invent new entities, but take the entire set of functions that are now prescribed to be performed by the crew on board in terms of navigation by international and national regulators, and sequentially, one after another, we perform each function in automatic and remote mode, - he explained to RBC.

Pinsky noted that by introducing drones, shipping companies will be able to reduce 15-30% of operating costs. This will also cover the shortage of highly qualified sailors, which now reaches 20% of the required number of workers.^[2]

Red Hat to take part in MAS'innovative unmanned marine research project

On April 16, 2020, it became known that Red Hat will take part in the MAS innovative unmanned marine research project. MAS will be one of the first full-size and fully autonomous unmanned vessels to cross the Atlantic. The MAS project is the result of a global collaboration led by the marine research organization Promare. Timed to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the legendary voyage of the original Mayflower, the project opens up interesting prospects for the shipping industry and the future of oceanographic research. Read more here.

2019: A pilot is being implemented in Russia to develop and test equipotential navigation technologies

As it became known to TAdviser on April 24, 2019, in Russia, within the framework of the National Technological Initiative (NTI) and with the support of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, a pilot project on offshore navigation (BES) is being implemented in order to support high technologies in the most promising areas of the marine industry.

Participation in the "pilot," which started at the end of 2018, is taken by leading domestic shipping companies and Russian developers of marine navigation solutions and control systems, including the NTI working group on the development of high technologies for the marine industry Marinet.

Within the framework of the project, it is planned to develop and test technologies for automatic navigation and remote control of ships. The results of the project implementation are planned to be obtained by the spring of 2020: the creation of means of automatic and remote navigation to equip existing ships, the results of their experimental operation, as well as proposals for international and national use, the introduction of a regulatory framework for the operation of ships and marine equipment with a high degree of automation.

Among the advantages of bookless navigation are the improvement of the safety of navigation and the reduction of the number of crew on board or the improvement of the existing traditional ship control system. The crew receives timely decision-making information and support from qualified shore personnel; the shipping company is able to control everything that happens on the ship, optimize its movement and quickly influence decisions; shipowners, insurance companies, maritime administrations - unprecedented transparency and reliability of information on the movement and condition of ships.

On the one hand, it is expected that BES technologies will eliminate the human factor in ensuring traffic safety. The system will provide more accurate and uninterrupted information on the location of ships. On the other hand, the introduction of such technologies can give rise to unemployment, since some of the staff will be replaced by automation. Repair personnel should be very highly qualified. Indeed, in addition to mechanics, it will be necessary to repair electronics, so it will be necessary for employees to conduct training trainings and courses. However, in general, automation allows you to simplify the control of the ship based on ready-made software solutions. Thus, theoretically, it will be possible to use the crew without much experience.

In addition to improving safety and eliminating the human factor in control, the introduction of a wireless control system is beneficial due to the cheaper design of the vessel, increased capacity and reduced operating costs for the crew. It is assumed that the introduction of a massive global use of keyless vessels could take several decades: first, companies will use vessels with remote control and reduced crew, then fully autonomous vessels will appear.

Given the most difficult conditions navigation in the northern seas, the life of the ship may depend on the speed of decision-making by the captain. Despite all the advantages, there are disadvantages to automating ships. So, ships cannot be completely autonomous, since the installed equipment requires the control of specialists. For example, a camcorder mounted on a ship may not always provide a clear image to the operator at the control station, especially in poor visibility or communication failures. In this case, the presence of qualified personnel on the ship is necessary in order to notice the danger in time and prevent its consequences.

Until recently, sea transport was not perceived as a promising field of application of information technologies. The reasons were the traditional conservatism of the industry, the long cycle of ship design and operation and, most importantly, the underdeveloped and expensive telecommunications infrastructure based primarily on satellite communications. The transfer of large amounts of data online has become the main criterion for business efficiency. But so far it turns out that sea transport was left overboard. Hundreds of thousands of ships, thousands of seaports and shipping companies, national and international regulators, millions of professional sailors and employees providing shipping and transportation were isolated from each other in terms of information exchange. However, the development of computer systems and IT and their introduction into the field of shipping will allow not only to establish effective data exchange between the ship and the coast, but also to create a single information network connecting all participants and all elements of the maritime industry, "said Alexey Tuzov, an independent expert in the transport industry.