LONDON — UK maritime defense startup Online Oceans secured £4 million in a funding round led by Seraphim Space, the company said in a statement on Tuesday. The fresh capital will allow Online Oceans to accelerate the development of autonomous maritime systems designed to protect critical infrastructure located across the ocean floor.
The cash will go directly toward building solar-powered autonomous fleets meant to watch over underwater infrastructure like cables and pipelines, according to Online Oceans. Engineers at the startup will use a portion of the £4 million to test advanced hull designs and specialized power systems that can stay at sea for 3 or more months without refueling or having human crews on board.
Seraphim Space backed the £4 million round to link satellite data feeds with the 1 startup's surface vessels, the investor confirmed in a filing. Seraphim Space regularly writes financial checks for space and defense technology across Europe, recognizing the vital role that Online Oceans plays in integrating space capabilities with traditional maritime operations to monitor complex subsea environments.
Online Oceans operates from the United Kingdom, where the chief executive officer said the £4 million funding injection lets the firm scale its technology to meet rising global demands for subsea security and address growing geopolitical challenges. With the financial backing of Seraphim Space, the Online Oceans team plans to expand operations and deploy 1 unified suite of systems designed to provide sustainable and efficient surveillance solutions.
The focus on solar-powered technology underlines a corporate commitment to environmental sustainability, ensuring that Online Oceans operations serve a strategic purpose while aligning with broader climate goals, the company said. Online Oceans has not disclosed how many vessels it plans to build in the first batch, nor when the first autonomous craft will hit the water for commercial trials, according to a corporate statement issued on Tuesday.
