US Navy’s huge uncrewed robot ship has journeyed through Panama Canal

By David Hambling

A robotic cargo vessel has passed through the Panama Canal for the first time. The uncrewed ship, an Overlord Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) of the US Navy, made a 4700 nautical mile (8700 kilometre) journey including passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific almost entirely without human assistance.

Pentagon spokesman Josh Frey says the vessel was in autonomous mode for over 97 per cent of the trip’s length. A remote crew assisted when needed.

The US Navy has two of the 59-metre Overlord vessels, modified from crewed …