Sealartec solves issue of autonomous launch and recovery of USVs

Haifa-based maritime technology company Sealartec has closed a significant maritime capability gap by successfully deploying fully autonomous launch and recovery (ALR) systems for unmanned surface vessels (USVs).

“While the unmanned systems market has been maturing rapidly – with smarter vessels, better AI, and more advanced control systems – the maritime sector faced a significant blind spot: how to safely launch and recover USVs without human intervention,” the company noted in a 6 May 2025 press release.

Launching and recovering USVs without the need for naval personnel in the vicinity is a key capability enhancement for operations like mine clearing, where USVs would typically be launched and recovered from a mothership, but where the human crew must be kept out of the danger area.

“If robotic vessels are to operate truly autonomously, launch and recovery cannot remain manual,” noted Amitai Peleg, CEO of Sealartec. “We designed our systems to be the missing link: the one no one else wanted to touch.”

Sealartec’s range of ALR systems are designed for both manned and unmanned vessels and are compatible with all typical launch and recovery operations: the ALR-C system can launch and recover USVs via cranes or davits; the ALR-S system is for launch and recovery via a stern ramp; while the ALR-U system facilitates the secure recovery of unmanned underwater vehicles at a distance from any manned ship without the need for human intervention.

The ALR-C and ALR-S systems can be operated in conditions up to Sea State 6, while the ALR-U system is operable up to Sea State 5.

Key components of the systems include autonomous docking and retrieval algorithms that are adaptive to rough seas; a local positioning system (LPS) for precise, real-time tracking; robotic capture interfaces that eliminate the need for human handling; and a modular system design for integration into existing platforms or new-build vessels.

Sealartec’s ALR systems are already operational, notably integrated into the MANTAS series of USVs produced by Florida-based company MARTAC.

The company states that its ALR capability “goes beyond hardware. It provides a strategic capability to navies, coast guards, and commercial operators seeking to reduce risk, enhance operational readiness, and enable persistent unmanned missions – regardless of sea conditions.

“The launch and recovery phase,” the company added, “long considered a bottleneck in maritime autonomy, is no longer a limitation”.