Marina tests autonomous vessel

In line with the continuous development of advanced and modern technologies in the maritime sector, the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) conducted the sea trial of the first unmanned surface vessel (USV) in the country at Subic Bay.

The Marina in collaboration with Sea Machines Robotics, a Boston-based developer of autonomous vessel systems, held the sea trial of SELKIE on 4 August 2025.

The SELKIE is a seven-meter vessel owned and operated by Sea Machines and powered by its flagship SM300 Autonomous Command and Control System.

The sea trial aims to evaluate performance, safety and operations across manned, remote and fully autonomous modes. It is also to test the capability of the USV in terms of promoting unmanned operations from seashore and vice versa.

The sea trial marks a significant step towards integrating autonomous maritime technology into the region, positioning the Philippines at the forefront of innovation, automation digitalization, and sustainable shipping in Southeast Asia.

In a previous demonstration held on the showfloor of Philippine Marine 2025 for Naval News, SELKIE deployed from a pier for manuevers around Subic Bay with Starlink as the primary link between the drone boat and its operators.

Eridium and LTE networks provided another source for communication, and were utilized during the demo.