Blue Water Autonomy begins building first Liberty-class autonomous logistics ship for the US Navy

Programme overview and timetable

Blue Water Autonomy, a US company, has taken another step towards wider adoption of autonomous technology at sea by announcing that it is moving into construction of the first of its new Liberty-class autonomous logistics vessels for the United States Navy (US Navy). Delivered in partnership with the Dutch shipbuilding group Damen Shipyards, the initiative represents a strategic move to field large-scale uncrewed systems by combining a proven hull design, operational autonomy and the ability to build in volume. Under the current schedule, construction of the first ship is set to begin in March 2026 at Conrad Shipyard in Louisiana, with delivery planned for the end of that same year.

Liberty-class autonomous logistics ships for the US Navy

Liberty-class vessels are planned at 60 metres in length, with a steel hull and a range of more than 10,000 nautical miles, and they will be able to carry in excess of 150 tonnes of payload. Designed to remain at sea for months without a crew, they are intended to take on logistics, sensor and combat-support tasks, operating alongside crewed ships in the US fleet as complementary units. The programme’s aim is to strengthen naval capacity via a rapidly producible platform that can be adapted to different configurations while relying on domestic infrastructure and an established supply chain.

Damen Stan Patrol 6009 heritage and the “Axe Bow” hull

The Liberty-class design is derived from Damen’s Stan Patrol 6009 hull, known for its vertical “Axe Bow” stem. This feature enables the vessel to “cut” through waves more effectively, reducing pitching and improving seakeeping in difficult conditions. With more than 300 vessels of this type operating worldwide, the hull offers a track record that lowers technical risk and allows Blue Water Autonomy to focus its engineering efforts on reworking the internal layout for autonomous operation.

Autonomy engineering and long-duration operations

Developing the Liberty class has required a comprehensive re-engineering of mechanical, electrical and propulsion systems, including automated fault-management capabilities to support extended deployments with minimal human involvement. By bringing together hardware, software and artificial intelligence, the ship becomes a highly autonomous platform intended to sustain long-range ocean operations in demanding environments. On this point, Blue Water Autonomy’s chief executive, Rylan Hamilton, said: “La clase Liberty refleja nuestro compromiso con la construcción de buques autónomos diseñados desde el inicio para operar durante largos periodos y producirse en serie”.

Damen Technical Cooperation (DTC) and US serial production at Conrad Shipyard

The Blue Water Autonomy–Damen Shipyards arrangement is being delivered through the Damen Technical Cooperation (DTC) model, under which the Dutch yard licenses its designs to partner builders in different regions. Used successfully across commercial and government programmes, this approach leverages local capabilities to produce complex vessels. Within this framework, Conrad Shipyard will use advanced welding and automated assembly processes, supporting serial production of between ten and twenty Liberty-class ships per year and establishing a scalable, efficient industrial model for the US Navy.