The registration creates a flag-state framework for Saildrone vessels operating internationally. Saildrone and the Danish Maritime Authority jointly established the regulations required to register and operate the USVs.
“We are pleased that Saildrone has chosen Denmark as the flag state for the company’s uncrewed vessels,” said Brian Adrian Wessel, Director General of the Danish Maritime Authority. “This underscores that Denmark, as a leading maritime nation, has both the willingness and the ability to manage and certify future maritime technologies.”
“At the same time, the registration serves as a strong example of the work carried out through the DMA Regulatory Future Lab, where we collaborate with industry to develop safe and practical solutions when new maritime technologies challenge existing regulations,” Wessel said. “As a regulatory authority, we must create room for innovation, and this is one way we can do so.”
The Danish registration gives Saildrone a formal regulatory basis for further expansion in Europe. The company said it would support fleet growth and closer operational integration with European customers.
“Denmark is one of the world’s great maritime nations, with a reputation for high standards, safety, and professional maritime administration,” said Kim Løye Sørensen, head of business development for Saildrone Europe. “Operating under the Danish flag is a meaningful milestone as we expand our operations in Europe, and we are proud to represent the Danish flag at sea.”
Denmark and Saildrone have worked together for more than a year. The four Voyager vessels are already conducting missions in Danish territorial waters and the country’s exclusive economic zone in the Baltic Sea.
Initial trials involved the Danish Armed Forces Drone Centre, Defence Command Denmark and the Ministry of Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation. The Danish Navy Command and Danish Defence Innovation Unit also participated.
Saildrone designed the Voyager for extended missions in open-ocean conditions. Its roles include maritime awareness, hydrographic surveying and environmental monitoring.
The vessels can support the detection of cross-border crime, illegal migration and threats to critical infrastructure. Saildrone supplies its USVs for civil, commercial and government operations.
The Voyager uses wind and solar power, backed by a 78-horsepower diesel engine for emergency propulsion. The 20-metre vessel has a 10-metre mast, a patrol speed of six knots and a 100-day maintenance interval.
“This is the first time that any Saildrone has achieved formal national flag status. Given the phenomenal seafaring history of the Danes, it’s a huge honor that we are carrying the Danish flag on our saildrones,” said Richard Jenkins, Saildrone Founder and CEO. The registration is intended to support a broader Danish-flagged fleet.
Jenkins said Saildrone plans to work with the Danish Maritime Authority to add more vessels. “Going forward, we will continue to work closely with the Danish Maritime Authority to increase our Danish-flagged fleet, with the ambition of having our platform types, including Voyager, Surveyor, and Spectre, operating under the Danish flag in support of our European allies.”
Saildrone’s platforms combine artificial intelligence, sensors, secure communications and extended endurance. Their modular architecture supports customer- and partner-supplied sensors and mission payloads.
The company markets the vessels for persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, seabed data collection and threat tracking. Saildrone said the systems can reduce costs, operational risk and demand on crewed assets.
Saildrone and Lockheed Martin recently demonstrated the ability of a Surveyor USV to conduct missile attacks using JAGM guided missiles. The work showed that Saildrone platforms can also be configured for armed missions.
