Pioneer-M (unmanned vessel)

2022: Sending 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.

Sea trials of the self-driving vessel ended on August 8, 2022 in Lake Ladoga, and then towing began to the port of destination. The ship will pass through the inland waterways of Russia about 2.8 thousand km and will arrive in Sevastopol in early September 2022.

Russian drone ship went to Sevastopol

When the ship arrives, it will be depreserved at the Sevastopol Marine Plant, and documents will be drawn up. After that there will be a solemn entry of the vessel into the seaport. The start of scientific and expeditionary work on the vessel will begin in early December 2022, the press service of Sevastopol State University reported.

According to the university, the estimated duration of the transition will be 21 days. On board will take 12 members of the research expedition - teachers and students.

Pioneer-M has two main tasks: expeditionary activities and improving the technologies of non-ship navigation, in which the United Shipbuilding Corporation is interested. Scientists will work together with the specialists of the corporation.

The vessel operates a modular system: a standard 20-foot container with various equipment is installed on board, depending on the purposes of the research. The first, a hydrobiological container, will be delivered in December 2022. Then container for diving descents is manufactured.

Then, a remote-controlled underwater vehicle will be placed inside the container, to which tasks can be transmitted from the shore.

Automation of shipping is carried out not only in Russia, but also in other countries. The purpose of such projects is to reduce the impact of the human factor in sea transportation. ^[1]

2021: Launching

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.

A catamaran-type vessel with a hull was built for Sevastopol State University together with students of Russian universities from St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Arkhangelsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan and Vladivostok. It is intended for a wide range of complex research work in coastal areas, including oceanographic, hydrobiological, hydrochemical, geomorphological, hydroacoustic and diving. 

The first unmanned vessel in Russia was launched

The vessel is equipped with keyless navigation thanks to an integrated control system and interaction with marine mobile research laboratories. It is planned to operate the vessel year-round in the waters of the Black and Azov Seas, which, as noted by the head of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia Valery Falkov, will become the basis for the training of highly qualified scientific personnel in southern Russia.

Pioneer-M will be the first vessel in Russia on which the technologies of non-ship navigation will be practiced. We see it in the near future with an "unmanned vehicle" on the water, "said Alexei Rakhmanov, head of the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), at the ship's descent ceremony.

The length of Pioneer-M is about 26 meters, width - 9 meters, maximum speed - 10 knots. It can work autonomously for five days, the cruising range is 500 miles, the displacement is 114 tons.

The construction of the vessel was approved by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The project was implemented with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia and the Agency for Strategic Initiatives, the strategic partner was the Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center (part of the United Shipbuilding Corporation).^[2]

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