March 10-12 | Excel London Oceanology International 2026
Co-ordinated by the Plymouth and South Devon Freeport, more than 25 leading businesses and organisations from across the marine and defence sectors have united to represent the National Centre for Marine Autonomy at Oceanology International 2026 - the world’s premier biennial ocean technology exhibition.
Visitors to our stand can expect a high-energy programme of presentations, product launches, and major announcements, alongside compelling exhibits designed for hands-on engagement. Collectively, the NCMA’s partners will also play a prominent role at the conference, delivering technical papers, themed panel sessions, a keynote address, a waterside chat, and a series of exciting live demonstrations - many showcasing the latest advances in uncrewed vessel technology.
Designated in 2025, the National Centre for Marine Autonomy will be officially launched on the global stage at Oceanology International 2026, marking a major milestone for the UK’s marine autonomy community.
Free registration is now open at https://www.oceanologyinternational.com/london/en-gb.html
Visit the National Centre for Marine Autonomy stand Q400 when you get there!
Programme highlights
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PANEL: SMART OCEAN TECH FOR OFFSHORE WIND
Ocean Futures Theatre
Wednesday, 11th March
15:40 - 16:40
The session focuses on advanced ocean technology within renewables, covering the benefits and opportunities in terms of cost, time, carbon footprint, creating markets, UK opportunities and building our skills base.
Moderated by OREC
With Oshen, University of Oxford, Regen, Defra
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WATERSIDE CHAT: POLICY, INNOVATION AND SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE OF COASTAL AND MARITIME INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION
COAST Theatre
Thursday, 12th March
11:00 - 12:00
Moderated by University of Plymouth
With Fred Thomas MP and Helsing
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KEYNOTE AND PANEL: MARITIME SURVEILLANCE, SAFETY AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION
COAST Theatre
Thursday, 12th March
12:20 - 13:50
Keynote: Maritime infrastructure surveillance and protection
Speaker: Andy Liddell, Head of Maritime Uncrewed and Offboard Systems, Royal Navy
Panel: Exploring how coastal surveillance and situational awareness technologies contribute to infrastructure protection and security
Moderated by MoD
With University of Plymouth, NPL, Helsing, Anduril
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PANEL: EXPLORING THE FUTURE POTENTIAL OF IN-WATER TEST FACILITIES FOR DUAL-USE
Ocean Futures Theatre
Thursday, 12th March
13:30 - 14:30
Exploring potential for combined missions for maintaining assets with surveillance and escalation to defend. The discussion will have a particular focus on regulatory challenges.
Moderated by National Shipbuilding Office
With MCA, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, University of Plymouth, ACUA Ocean
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TECHNICAL CONFERENCE PAPERS
NCMA partners authored technical conference papers presenting key insights and advancements in marine autonomy.
Offshore Wind: the need for Marine Autonomy (OREC)
Marine Autonomy as a Catalyst for Ocean Research Innovation (Plymouth Marine Laboratory)
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DOCKSIDE DEMONSTRATIONS
Marine AI and Fugro will conduct live dockside demonstrations that offer practical insights into real-world applications and the latest advances in marine technology.
The National Centre for Marine Autonomy stand is proudly sponsored by the following organisations
Helsing is a new type of defence company, founded on the belief that AI and autonomous systems are central to protecting us from the new threat landscape. The company provides AI-enabled precision mass and autonomous capabilities across all domains, partnering with governments and industry to connect their existing hardware into an intelligent new network.
Contact: contact@helsing.ai
Anduril Industries is a global defence technology company with the mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology.
Contact: contact@anduril.com
With decades of expertise, the University of Plymouth is forging new capabilities in ocean monitoring, maritime cyber security, dual-use technologies and critical infrastructure support. Underpinning the UK’s marine autonomy revolution, it is also training future innovators and is the sector’s leading voice within Team Plymouth, our city’s defence-driven growth consortium.
Contact: partnerships@plymouth.ac.uk
Plymouth and South Devon Freeport offers space for growth in the form of prime industrial units and development sites for businesses operating in defence, marine, space, advanced manufacturing, engineering, and net-zero tech sectors. Whether you are looking to let units, lease land or buy property within the Freeport, there is a range of tax and customs incentives available to support your investment.
Contact: info@pasdfreeport.com
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Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) is an award-winning global leader in interdisciplinary marine science, operating at the forefront of technological innovation. It provides advanced monitoring expertise and access to world-class facilities, supported by AI and cutting-edge technologies. PML leads Smart Sound Plymouth, a key part of the National Centre for Marine Autonomy.
Contact:
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The commercial arm of Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), PML Applications, provides a diverse range of services for blue economy sectors, including shipping, offshore and environmental, drawing on PML’s scientific excellence to provide consultancy and solutions in areas such as monitoring, data visualisation, coastal technologies, and marine biofouling and corrosion.
Contact:
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The UK’s leading testing facility for marine autonomy and advanced ocean technologies, Smart Sound Plymouth – which is led and operated by Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) – provides safe access to authorised water space for dynamic testing, world-class environmental data and expertise, integrated platforms with surface and sub-surface capability and defence-level assets and security.
Contact:
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ORE Catapult is the UK’s leading innovation centre for offshore renewable energy, established in 2013 by the UK Government as part of a network of Catapults set up by Innovate UK in high-growth industries. Independent and trusted, with a unique combination of world-leading test and demonstration facilities, engineering and research expertise, ORE Catapult convenes the sector, delivering applied research, accelerating technology development, reducing risk and cost and enhancing UK-wide economic growth.
Contact:
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Marine AI is a Plymouth-based software company in the development and delivery of its dual-use vessel control suite, GuardianAI™. Founded in 2017, Marine AI drew on its team’s extensive experience in manned and unmanned vessels, creating the Orion suite which is at the forefront of autonomous maritime innovation, pushing the boundaries of platform control, long-duration operations, and safe, reliable autonomy.
Contact:
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BMTis a maritime-oriented high-end design house and technical consulting firm driven by a passion for solving complex, real-world problems. We deliver design, engineering and consulting excellence in a world of rising compliance demands, global competition, rapid innovation and limited time to capitalise on new technologies or market opportunities.
Contact:
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Oshen is a Plymouth-based robotics company building autonomous, wind‑driven micro‑vessels called C‑Stars for continuous ocean monitoring. Their rugged robotic fleets gather climate, security, and environmental data across wide ocean areas, supporting weather forecasting and maritime insights with persistent, scalable sensing constellations.
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Zero USV designs and builds reliable uncrewed surface vessels for operations in harsh maritime environments. The OCEANUS 12m and 17m class are modular electric-hybrid USVs with fully redundant systems and multi-week endurance, designed for transportability and serviceability. They maximise uptime and lower operating costs for offshore missions.
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The National Physical Laboratory (NPL), founded in 1900, is the UK’s National Metrology Institute, owned by DSIT. Headquartered in Teddington with sites across the UK, NPL advances measurement science in critical technology areas—enabling innovation, standards, and solutions that underpin industry, research, and societal progress.
Contact:
Andre Burgess andre.burgess@npl.co.uk
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The Appledore Maritime Innovation Centre is a purpose-built hub for sustainable maritime technology, opening in late 2026. Located on North Devon’s coast, it offers workshops and office space for research and testing with direct access to the Taw-Torridge Estuary and Celtic Sea—ideal for real-world trials and next-generation maritime innovation.
Contact:
Noel Stevens nstevens@alderking.com
Oceanology International 2026 free registration is now open at https://www.oceanologyinternational.com/london/en-gb.html
Visit the National Centre for Marine Autonomy stand Q400 when you get there!