International companies jump on board Mayflower 400 Robo-Ship Campaign

THREE major international companies jumped on board the Mayflower Autonomous Ship Crowdfunder launch as sponsors within seconds of it going live on Monday (24 October).

The UTC and Silicon Sensing, both with offices in Plymouth, as well as Lockheed Martin UK and a host of individuals both in the UK and USA pledged in the first few minutes.

Peter Ruddock, UK Chief Executive of Lockheed Martin, who were first in line to support the campaign, said: "Lockheed Martin UK is focused on innovation in every area of our business, including the future of unmanned technology, so this is a fascinating project. That's why I'm pleased to support Mayflower Autonomous Ship Ltd at the outset of this project and wish them every success in the next stage of this exciting venture. Representing a company with deep roots on both sides of the Atlantic I am keen to see a new Mayflower sail and herald another 400 years of history."

The Crowdfunding launch for the Mayflower Autonomous Ship aims to raise £300,000 to get ambitious plans to build it as the flagship of the Mayflower 400 commemorations from blueprint to boatyard, creating a model and conducting trials.

If successful then the build of the actual vessel would begin rapidly in order to hit the deadline of seeing it sail, without crew, out of Plymouth UK, to Plymouth USA in 2020 following the route of the Pilgrim Fathers.

Monday's launch saw the Earl of Devon pledge his support among a host of dignitaries including international sailing hero Pete Goss MBE, himself from Plymouth, who has added his support.

The adventurer and recipient of the Legion d'Honneur for saving a fellow-racer in the Vendee Globe, built possibly the most technologically advanced catamaran the world has seen, Team Phillips. He said: "This fantastic auto-ship campaign is combining science, technology and marine excellence to make maritime history and creates yet another world-changing project to come out of Plymouth. That it will be the Mayflower 400 flagship makes me proud to support it and I wish the team behind it every success."

The MAS project is a collaboration between MSubs, marine research foundation ProMare and Plymouth University.

Everyone is being offered the chance to get their name written into history as ‘new pilgrims' by buying a reward that will literally make their mark on the project. For £20 you can put your name on the boat; for £50 you can put your family's name on it and for £35 you can put two names and a significant date.

Larger rewards include gold-standard corporate sponsorship deals, invitations to VIP events, invitations to the launch, exclusive opportunities and other offers.

When launched, the MAS could be controlled by a computer, or by a captain sitting behind a virtual bridge onshore. It would sail out of Plymouth via remote control and then switch to autonomous control once out at sea.

It will be solar powered, with cutting edge battery and renewable energy capture, travelling to inhospitable parts of the world to conduct scientific research and collect data. Onboard there will be unmanned aerial vehicles plus life rafts so that it can respond to a distress call from other mariners, and be first on the scene and render assistance.

The MAS will be built in Plymouth and the South West. The team behind the project, a collaboration between Plymouth submarine builder MSubs, Plymouth University and charitable marine research foundation ProMare, is looking for suitable locations.