Ocean Power Technologies Inc (NYSE-A:OPTT) earlier this week highlighted that it had received certification from the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) to provide training for operators of uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs).
The company said the accreditation recognises its ability to deliver ethical, safe, and efficient training. It noted that operators who complete the course can demonstrate certified proficiency in using USVs, supporting broader deployment of autonomous maritime systems.
CEO Philipp Stratmann told Proactive that while many in the industry discuss autonomy, actual operations still depend on skilled human oversight. “They all have to be operated,” he said, underlining the practical need for certified training.
The company explained that its training curriculum is based on operational knowledge gained from deployments in a range of environments, including hot-weather operations in the UAE and cold-weather scenarios in the Baltic. These experiences are fed into Ocean Power Technologies’ processes and used to continually refine its offerings.
Stratmann noted that the company’s ISO 9001 certification supports this iterative improvement. He added that all feedback from field teams and technical staff is used to enhance the quality of future deployments.
Ocean Power Technologies stated that this milestone adds formal rigour to its training and creates a new commercial opportunity. The training programmes are expected to generate revenue for the company, in addition to supporting the transition from demonstration activities to full operational deployment of autonomous systems.
“This is going to be one of those cornerstones that enables the true operationalising of USVs and autonomous operations on the ocean,” Stratmann said. He also mentioned the potential to include other technologies such as buoys in these integrated solutions.
The company believes this step strengthens its position in supporting large-scale adoption of ocean autonomy technologies. Stratmann said it reflects Ocean Power Technologies’ broader objective of enabling customers to fully benefit from autonomy and self-reliance at sea.