Built to Handle the Future: Deck Systems for Uncrewed Assets

Advances in deck handling equipment, such as A-Frames, winches, and LARS, are almost always overshadowed by the achievements of their counterparts—the shining technologies they’re conceived to deploy and retrieve.

But it is no understatement to suggest that the operational success of the latest USVs, AUVs, ROVs, and other towed bodies in the field hinge—quite literally—on the expanding capabilities of deck systems to serve as safe, rugged, and reliable solutions in challenging marine environments. Put simply, uncrewed technologies are unable to deliver leaner, greener ways of working without the right support infrastructure.

SYSTEMS BUILT TO LAST

Given the impressive speed at which uncrewed technologies are evolving—spurred on by breakthroughs in AI-led command systems, electrical engineering, and new composite build materials—the question of long-term utility of any deck handling system is today a major design consideration. Where once deck systems may have been purpose-built to handle very precise payloads—such as a specific vehicle or subsea asset—today operators are demanding more multi-purpose options with the capacity to handle a range of payloads.

This means designing and manufacturing systems that are not only able to endure the most hostile environments on the planet while handling some of the most sophisticated technological platforms in the industry, but ones that will likely remain operational across several generations of new, cutting-edge uncrewed vehicles.

BIGGER LOADS, DEEPER WATERS

Of late—as documented in this very Guide—there has been a notable surge in demand for larger multipurpose USVs, vehicles capable of long-endurance deployments in increasingly remote stretches of water. Okeanus’ response has been to introduce several new standard packages optimized to launch and recover a range of heavier monitoring and surveillance assets, including larger USVs, for environmental survey campaigns and defense-related missions.

Okeanus’ 20-Ton A-Frame is a COTS product but the engineering and manufacturing team, based out of Houston, TX, has worked with several USV manufacturers and operators to incorporate certain specifications to ensure the safe and efficient handling of uncrewed vehicles of various dimensions. Versatility has been central to the design philosophy to maximize return on investment. The A-Frame can serve as a permanent deck installation but built with rapid mobilization and demobilization in mind should the need arise to remove the equipment from the vessel.

EQUIPPED TO HANDLE THE FUTURE

Okeanus’ comprehensive product portfolio boasts an impressive line-up of field-proven multipurpose winches, specialty winches, A-Frames, and LARS. In addition, the company also offers an extensive rental portfolio, which not only includes a comprehensive range of quick-to-mobilize handling systems but also a diverse range of oceanographic equipment and instrumentation, including uncrewed assets, such as USVs.

Okeanus is also involved with several exciting new projects to bring new handling capabilities to USVs. That is, equipping them with autonomous and remotely operable deployment and retrieval systems to enable USVs to launch and recover ancillary assets and instrumentation.

Okeanus' 20-Ton A-Frame is designed to handle a range of heavier assets in deeper waters, including multi-purpose USVs.

This spotlight appeared in ON&T Magazine’s 2025 July Special Edition, Uncrewed Vehicles Buyers’ Guide, to read more access the magazine here.