OceanAlpha’s Fire Conqueror is an Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) designed for rapid firefighting and emergency response across marine and coastal environments. Read more >>
The vessel combines autonomous navigation and remote supervision with dedicated fire suppression equipment, allowing firefighting operations to be conducted without placing personnel aboard the responding craft.
Designed for 24/7 autonomous operation, Fire Conqueror can support operations in ports, harbors, marinas, coastal waterways, oil and industrial facilities, and fleet or vessel emergencies. It can also be used in responses to land-based wildfires where affected areas are accessible from the water.
By removing the requirement for an onboard crew, the USV provides an additional response option when conditions close to a fire could expose personnel or crewed vessels to significant hazards. Remote operation allows the vessel to approach the affected area while personnel supervise its movements and firefighting activity from a separate location.
Autonomous Navigation for Fire Response
Fire Conqueror incorporates autonomous functions covering vessel departure, transit, positioning, and firefighting support. The USV can independently leave its berth and follow a collision-avoidance route toward the required location, reducing the level of direct operator input needed during transit.
Once at the incident area, dynamic positioning enables the vessel to maintain its location during firefighting operations. Fire monitor aim-point correction supports accurate delivery of water toward the selected target. Operators retain remote supervisory control and can intervene when required, combining autonomous functionality with human oversight.
The vessel incorporates bow tunnel thrusters and a Gyro Quick MC2 X7 stabilization system, with its operating sea state specified as Sea State 4.
Navigation and situational awareness are supported by an integrated sensor suite comprising a Simrad HALO24 radar, Lidar AT128, ClearCam 360° camera, and GNSS VectorNav. These systems provide environmental and positioning information for the vessel’s autonomous functions while giving remote operators visibility of the surrounding area.
Fire Conqueror supports Starlink, 4G/5G LTE mobile communications, and 1.4G broadband radio for communications and remote operation.
Dedicated Fire Suppression Systems
At the incident site, Fire Conqueror uses a Darley 3000 gpm fire pump together with two Elkhart EXM2 7400 fire monitors. Each monitor delivers a flow rate of 2,500 gpm at 10-bar pressure, with a range exceeding 80 meters. The monitors also provide a ±30-degree firing arc.
Operating without personnel aboard allows the USV to approach fires without subjecting an onboard crew to the conditions immediately surrounding the incident. This configuration provides an additional firefighting capability for situations where deploying personnel or crewed vessels could present significant safety risks.
The vessel combines its firefighting hardware with automated water targeting. Sensor and software systems assist with navigation and targeting, while human operators continue to provide supervision and can take control when necessary.
35-Knot Speed and 200-Nautical-Mile Range
Fire Conqueror measures 11.8 meters in length, with a beam of 2.4 meters, a draft of 0.80 meters, and displacement of 8.6 tonnes.
Propulsion is provided by a single Cummins QSB6.7 550 hp system coupled with a Doen DJ142 waterjet. This configuration gives the USV a maximum speed of 35 knots, supporting rapid transit toward an emergency location.
The vessel carries 600 liters of fuel and has a stated operational range of 200 nautical miles. A Zipwake 450S interceptor is also incorporated into the vessel, while a telescopic radar/mast can be folded to facilitate transportation.
Together, the propulsion, navigation, communications, and firefighting systems support autonomous transit toward an incident, with operators able to supervise the vessel remotely and intervene when required.
Supporting Marine and Coastal Emergency Response
Fire Conqueror is intended for a range of environments where access from the water can provide a practical route to an incident. Potential applications include ports and harbors, marinas, coastal waterways, oil and industrial facilities, and emergencies involving fleets or individual vessels.
The USV can also support responses to wildfires on land when affected areas are accessible from waterways. In these scenarios, its uncrewed configuration enables firefighting resources to be deployed from the water without requiring personnel to travel aboard the responding vessel.
Autonomous berth departure and collision-avoidance navigation support deployment from its operating location, while the 35-knot maximum speed enables rapid transit. On arrival, dynamic positioning, remote situational awareness, and fire monitor aim-point correction support firefighting activity at the incident location.
Overseas Fire Conqueror Demonstrations
OceanAlpha has conducted overseas demonstrations of Fire Conqueror, showcasing the USV’s firefighting, navigation, and uncrewed-operation capabilities.
The demonstrations provide an operational setting for the combination of autonomous navigation, remote supervision, and dedicated firefighting systems incorporated into the vessel.
Fire Conqueror brings these capabilities together in an uncrewed platform intended for firefighting operations across marine and coastal environments. Its combination of autonomous functions, remote human oversight, situational-awareness sensors, and dedicated fire suppression equipment allows the vessel to support emergency response while reducing the need to place personnel aboard a craft operating close to a fire.
Learn more about the Fire Conqueror on the OceanAlpha website >>
