---
title: "Scalable 3D printed uncrewed boat tested by Marin"
url: https://www.voxelmatters.com/scalable-3d-printed-uncrewed-boat-tested-by-marin/
date: 2026-01-26
modified: 2026-01-26
lang: en
author: "Joseph Caron-Dawe"
description: "Marin, a global leader in maritime research, has conducted on-water tests of a 3D printed Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) as part of its work with the Royal Netherlands Navy. The Dutch..."
categories:
  - "Contract Manufacturers"
  - "Defense"
  - "Maritime Industry"
tags:
  - "future"
image: https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Marin-SeaRush-test-640x360.jpg
word_count: 364
---

# Scalable 3D printed uncrewed boat tested by Marin

[Marin, a global leader in maritime research](https://www.voxelmatters.directory/company/marin/), has conducted on-water tests of a [3D printed Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/all-aboard-3d-printed-boats/) as part of its work with the Royal Netherlands Navy.

The Dutch institute is working on the vessel – named SeaRush – as part of a strategic transition by the national military forces towards a combined fleet of crewed and uncrewed maritime systems.

The experimental USV has been developed and tested in partnership with various companies. For the translation of concept to printable design format, IMPACD Boats were consulted, and together with large-format 3D printer manufacturer CEAD the printing process was set up and the hull printed in less than a week at the Dutch Boat Factory.

[Outfitting of the 3D printed hull](https://www.voxelmatters.com/designing-and-building-the-mac-one-boat-hull-with-lfam/) was then completed at IMPACD Boats, where the USV was prepared for full operational testing. The boat is powered by a Honda outboard engine, which can also be externally operated thanks to its interface with a control system from Italian supplier UltraFlex.

In December, a five-month process from conceptualization to full on-water testing was completed when the SeaRush was put through its paces in the Rijnhaven in Wageningen.

![Marin, a global leader in maritime research, has conducted on-water tests of a 3D printed Uncrewed Surface Vessel for the Royal Netherlands Navy.](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Marin-testing-facility-scaled-e1769426473588-340x296.jpg)

SeaRush is the result of a collaboration between Marin and the Dutch Ministry of Defense’s MINDBase center (Military Innovation by Doing) in an innovative defense project aimed at realizing rapid development, deployment, and iterative improvement of USVs. 

It’s part of the MoD's drive towards an ecosystem that brings together uncrewed vessels with [other systems, such as drones](https://www.voxelmatters.com/firestorm-labs-raises-47m-to-3d-print-warfare-drones/). The use of 3D printing enables the leverage of existing production infrastructure in the Netherlands.

Marin is also running the KNOWONE research programme, which aims to overcome the challenge of integrated control of uncrewed systems. A key consideration of this is how multiple small and large USVs can cooperate with crewed units in maritime operations without the need for additional operators. For this, proprietary software applications are also being developed that enable USVs to operate in formations alongside a crewed vessel.

Additive manufacturing is increasingly being incorporated into military and defense supply chains – [in 2025, the US Navy made a significant shift towards AM as a full operational tool](https://www.voxelmatters.com/how-the-us-navy-embraced-am-in-2025/), cutting manufacturing lead times by up to 70%.