Ocean Security

Prioritising the protection of people and the planet

NOC Innovations works alongside governments, commercial organisations and academic institutions across all areas of ocean security.

For many years, we’ve contributed to global defence missions by delivering world-class marine science and technology, enabling the evolution of that which keeps us and our offshore environments safe.

NOC Innovations ocean security

Shaping the defences of the future

We have a long track record of advising navies and defence primes, helping to develop technology roadmaps to reflect innovations in, for instance, monitoring tools and techniques.

In several areas of research, we’ve paved the way for changes now being made by the maritime defence sector.

An important example of this is our groundbreaking work in the area of Maritime Autonomous Systems (MAS), which includes our Autosub Long Range (ALR) developments, the use of ocean gliders, and the integration of novel sensing technology.

Huw Gullick

Associate Director NOC Innovations

We also host the world’s second-largest fleet of Marine Autonomous Vehicles (MAVs) – the largest of any research organisation globally – which is built on over 20 years’ experience in developing and deploying them. And still we work to push the boundaries of MAS.

Our accomplishments to date

NOC Innovations has a sustained programme of developing long-endurance Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) like ALR, which has recently led to the longest-ever continuous deployment in the Atlantic Ocean.

Our ALR recently performed two separate missions, travelling 1,013km over 21 days.

Matt Kingsland

Marine Autonomous and Robotic Systems Expert

But we can operate them outside the Atlantic too. We’re able to take our ALRs into places no other operators dare to go – for instance, beneath the Antarctic ice. In fact, we’ll soon be starting a project that aims to have an ALR occupy the seabed for a full year without human interference.

  • We’ve also demonstrated our Marine X-Band Radar based shallow-water depth mapping, which can be mounted on ships to provide ocean behaviour insights from several kilometres away, giving wider context to the environment surrounding a ship. For some time, it’s been possible to map shallow-water bathymetry and currents with radars from shore-based stations, and NOC have pioneered the approach from moving vessels. This presents the possibility of mapping large areas of shallow or coastal waters from a stand-off position a couple of kilometres away without vessels having to travel into potentially dangerous shallow or rocky areas.

Our capability in supporting maritime defence missions continues to evolve to meet new challenges.

Huw Gullick

Associate Director NOC Innovations

10,000+

instruments and technologies in the NMEP