ACUA Ocean

About ACUA Ocean

ACUA Ocean, founded in 2019 by brothers Neil and Mike Tinmouth, is a UK-based company developing hydrogen-powered uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) for ocean monitoring, data collection, and protection. The founders' family history in the maritime sector inspired them to address the challenges of endurance and reliability for technology operating in harsh ocean environments. Neil Tinmouth, CEO, is a geophysicist and a winner of the Shell Ocean Discovery XPrize, while COO Mike Tinmouth has a background in advising high-growth tech startups.

The company operates on a platform-as-a-service model, providing stable, long-endurance USVs capable of deploying various sensor and system payloads for clients across the offshore energy, security, and marine conservation sectors. Its flagship vessel, the 'Pioneer', features a Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull (SWATH) design for enhanced stability in high sea states and is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system, which can reduce operational CO2 emissions by over 99%. This design allows the vessel to operate for extended periods of up to 70 days at sea. Applications include seabed surveys, monitoring of critical offshore infrastructure, anti-submarine warfare, and environmental data collection.

ACUA Ocean has secured significant funding through a combination of private investment and government grants. This includes a £1.5 million pre-seed round co-led by StealthPoint and Britbots, and £4 million in R&D grants from UK government bodies like the Department for Transport and DEFRA. The company's 'Pioneer' USV became the first in the UK to receive certification for a remotely operated and unmanned vessel from Lloyd's Register in August 2025, a major milestone ahead of sea trials. The company also announced a planned merger with HydroSurv to form Blue Ocean Autonomy, aiming to offer a comprehensive range of USV systems for inland, nearshore, and offshore applications.