British offshore services and shipping group James Fisher and Sons has taken a strategic minority stake in U.S. autonomous sailing vessel startup Ocean Aero, joining the company’s Series D funding round this month.
Ocean Aero is developing a wind- and solar-powered unmanned craft called Triton that is designed to operate on the surface and underwater. The company said the craft can remain submerged for more than five days while moving at 2 knots. In sailing mode, it is described as capable of running for 30 days or longer using combined wind and solar power.
The company said Triton will be fitted with a standard instrument package intended to cover most mission requirements, with space available for optional equipment. It also described a graphical user interface control system that enables operators to manage multiple units at the same time.
Triton’s first variant was produced in haze gray and was developed with defence applications in mind, according to Ocean Aero. The company said the craft has a small radar cross-section aimed at reducing the chance of detection, and highlighted its Made-in-the-USA background as important for U.S. Navy customers.
James Fisher and Sons said it is interested in both defence and civilian offshore use cases. Chief digital officer Sean Huff said Ocean Aero’s autonomous platform aligns with the group’s marine and subsea capabilities and supports its ability to deliver new solutions across the business.
The investment comes as James Fisher and Sons continues to operate across offshore technical services and vessel ownership in European coastwise trade, alongside other activities. The company also works with allied militaries and is among the limited number of private firms operating deep-diving submersibles used for submarine rescue. In addition, it builds rebreathers and specialised systems for special forces dive teams.
Ocean Aero CEO Kevin Decker said working with James Fisher and Sons and its global team in defence and energy would help the company learn from that experience, expand its footprint, and improve service delivery. He added that Ocean Aero is already benefiting from the investment and commercial agreement.
