No crew required: Christening held for autonomous ship prototype in Everett

EVERETT — Politicians, naval officials and top executives of the federal Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) gathered Monday to christen the USX-1 Defiant, an autonomous ship prototype at Everett Ship Repair.

More than 100 people erupted in cheers and applause after Mattie Hanley, wife of DARPA Director Stephen Winchell, smashed a bottle across the bow of the USX-1 Defiant.

Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, based on Whidbey Island, finished building the 80-foot-long, 240-ton ship in February. Since March, it has been undergoing testing in the Puget Sound.

Monday’s ceremony was the prelude to its next chapter, testing the ship in oceans around the world, said Tom Watson, the CEO of Serco, a Washington D.C. area contractor responsible for developing the surface vessel under DARPA’s No Manning Required program.

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/no-crew-required-christening-held-for-autonomous-ship-prototype-in-everett/

Reminds one of the sea going drones Ukraine's been using.