Damen Shipyards and Blue Water Autonomy announce license for Liberty-class autonomous vessel for the U.S. Navy

Damen Shipyards Group and Blue Water Autonomy have entered into a strategic licensing agreement to develop autonomous naval vessels for the U.S. Navy. Under the agreement, the first vessel of the Liberty-class will be constructed-a 60-meter steel-hulled autonomous ship capable of over 10,000 nautical miles and carrying more than 150 tons of payload. Construction is scheduled to commence at Conrad Shipyard in March 2026, with the inaugural vessel expected to enter service later this year under a formal Navy program.

security investments navy worldwide shipbuilding industry defense industry equipment and technology news

15 february 2026   |   22:00   |   Source: Gazeta Morska   |   Prepared by: Kamil Kusier   |   Print

fot. Damen

Expanding fleet capacity with autonomous systems

As the U.S. Navy seeks to expand fleet capabilities, accelerating the deployment of unmanned systems that complement crewed vessels has become a critical priority. The Liberty-class design supports a wide range of missions, including missile, sensor, and logistics payloads. Importantly, the vessel is immediately producible in existing U.S. shipyards, leveraging domestic supply chains.

Proven hull design

The Liberty-class will utilize the Stan Patrol 6009 hull developed by Damen Shipyards Group. This hull features the patented Axe Bow, a nearly vertical bow that slices through waves with minimal slamming and smoother wave re-entry. With over 300 Axe Bow hulls deployed worldwide, the design offers a proven platform that reduces technical risk and allows Blue Water to focus on reengineering internal systems for autonomous operation.

- Liberty-class reflects our focus on building autonomous vessels designed from the ground up for long-duration operations and repeat production, said Rylan Hamilton, CEO of Blue Water Autonomy. - By adapting a proven hull and reengineering it for unmanned operations, we deliver a vessel that can operate for extended periods without a crew, while being produced at the pace the Navy urgently needs. It’s a modern take on an old idea—rapidly building capable vessels at scale.

Autonomy from the inside out

Blue Water redesigned the vessel internally, from the engine room to mechanical and electrical systems, integrating autonomous, fault-tolerant propulsion and control systems. These innovations enable automated operations with minimal human intervention, supporting months-long deployments. Coupled with the Axe Bow hull, the Liberty-class provides rugged seaworthiness in harsh ocean conditions.

- The Axe Bow hull was engineered for demanding operational requirements, from speed and range to seakeeping, said Mark Honders, Design and Licence Manager at Damen. - Seeing the Stan Patrol 6009 adapted for autonomous operation highlights the design’s flexibility and demonstrates how proven commercial hulls can serve emerging naval missions.

Privately funded, production-ready

The Liberty-class initiative aligns with U.S. Navy and Pentagon efforts to encourage private development of key military technologies.

Construction will occur at Conrad Shipyard, which operates five yards and employs 1,100 personnel, producing more than 30 vessels annually. Conrad Shipyard employs advanced shipbuilding techniques, including automated panel lines and welding, allowing parallel construction and scalable output.

- Conrad has a long history of building complex vessels for both commercial and government clients, said Cecil Hernandez, President and CEO of Conrad Shipyard. - We have the infrastructure, workforce, and production readiness to begin construction and support serial builds, translating advanced vessel designs into operational capacity.

Liberty legacy and serial production

The Liberty-class name honors the World War II Liberty Ships, produced rapidly and at scale to meet urgent national needs. Following delivery of the first vessel, Blue Water plans to move to serial production, targeting 10–20 units per year. Production will leverage Conrad Shipyard’s existing facilities and workforce, drawing on prior experience with Damen-designed hulls to maximize efficiency and throughput.

The Liberty-class represents a new generation of autonomous naval vessels, combining a proven commercial hull with cutting-edge unmanned technology, ready to meet the evolving strategic needs of the U.S. Navy and global maritime security.

Buy us a coffee, and we’ll invest in great maritime journalism! Support Gazeta Morska and help us sail forward – click here!

autonomiczne okręty US Navy Axe Bow przemysł stoczniowy przemysł zbrojeniowy

comments

---

enter content

COMMENT

nick

Add the first comment