BlackSea Technologies is building an autonomous cargo ship for the US military, writes Nick Flaherty.

Construction of the NightTrain autonomous surface vessel has started with the keel-laying. The vessel is designed to transport containerised cargo over long distances to support contested and clandestine logistics operations for the military.

The design of the low-profile autonomous logistics vessel is based around standard ISO containers and releases cargo without reliance on ports, cranes, aircraft or protected infrastructure. It can carry up to 71 tonnes of supplies including subsistence, fuel and ammunition using standard container interfaces. This compatibility allows seamless integration into existing logistics planning and supply chains. The result is a flexible resupply platform that adapts to evolving operational demands without specialised infrastructure.

The 85 foot long autonomous vessel can travel up to 2700 nmi at a speed of 11 kts fully loaded.

“With NightTrain we have engineered a system that enables end-to-end resupply from staging bases to austere shorelines, sustaining forces operating inside denied environments,”

said Todd Greene, BlackSea’s director of advanced technologies. “Its survivable design, long-range performance and ability to operate without fixed logistics nodes allow commanders to sustain forces where traditional sealift and airlift cannot operate.”

The US military sees NightTrain as a way to think about moving cargo that is completely different than the way it is currently handled. This is increasingly important with challenges on multiple fronts, delivering containerised units that could be supply chain, logistics or weapon systems, including other uncrewed systems.