Nova Scotia’s Leeway Marine has secured yet another global partnership – becoming the first international franchisee for Zero USV’s Oceanus12 charter fleet in North America, a network of over-the-horizon, high-endurance uncrewed fully autonomous surface vessels (USVs).
The Oceanus12 is a next-generation uncrewed surface vessel, designed from the keel up for extended, high-endurance, fully autonomous missions in remote Arctic regions. Key features include a twin hybrid-electric propulsion system for ultimate reliability and fuel efficiency, an advanced autonomy software stack powered by MarineAI’s GuardianAI software, and a mission-agnostic platform that can be configured for a diverse range of operations.
This partnership represents a landmark step in expanding Zero USV’s world presence, with Leeway Marine now set to offer the company’s Oceanus12 USV for charter throughout Canada and the wider North American region.
“Becoming Zero USV’s first global franchisee underscores our commitment to delivering the most advanced uncrewed capabilities.,” said Jamie Sangster, CEO Leeway Group. “We see enormous potential for Oceanus12 – from defense and security tasks to environmental surveys and infrastructure monitoring.”
This collaboration between the two companies arrives at a time when global interest in uncrewed, high-endurance vessel solutions is surging, not least within the defense sector, where continuous maritime surveillance, border security, and rapid-response capabilities in contested waters have become increasingly critical.
Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Leeway Group was founded in 2015 by former navy professionals and is now one of Canada’s largest charter vessel suppliers in the offshore survey and defense charter market. The Group of companies includes Leeway Marine, Leeway Vessel Management, an offshore crewing company and related US subsidiaries.
With operations in Canada, US and the Indo-Pacific Region, Leeway is poised to create significant growth for the Zero USV brand in current and emerging markets.
“It is this core experience and knowledge which gives Zero USV the confidence that Leeway Marine is the right partner to take the Oceanus12 on and work it up to meet local requirements, leveraging its deep knowledge of Canadian waters and maritime operations,” says Matthew Ratsey, Zero USV’s founder. “This collaboration ensures that Zero USV’s cutting-edge technology, specifically developed for over-the-horizon missions, is paired with specialized, in-territory expertise.”
