River Itchen: Ocean Infinity draws up robot water taxis plan

The idea was originally put forward as part of Southampton City Council’s Itchen inquiry panel.

Andy Tourell, head of sustainable logistics at Ocean Infinity, introduced the proposal.

In the inquiry's report Mr Tourell’s vision says: “Our waterways, which include the River Itchen, River Test, River Hamble, Southampton Water and the wider Solent, present an opportunity to implement a city-scale ‘blue highway network’ of water taxis enhancing connectivity between our communities, open spaces, the city centre, the port, employment and education hubs."

If implemented, the transport network would ‘gradually expand’ along the Itchen, before connecting the wider region via Southampton Water and the Solent.

The company putting forward the plans, Ocean Infinity, is known for its robotic marine vessels and won the last Lord Mayor’s business award on May 17.

Based in Woolston, it builds robotic vessels that scan the sea, searching for shipwrecks and potential spots for wind farms, and supplying the data to companies and governments.

The report says the water taxis would be fitted with ‘zero carbon power and propulsion systems from day one’ and there would also be a ‘roadmap to unmanned vessel operation from a remote command and control centre in Woolston’.

Southampton City Council, Solent Transport and Associated British Ports in Southampton have ‘demonstrated support’ for the project and Ocean Infinity is now ‘building a consortium’ of partners, spanning local authorities, land owners, developers, operators and the maritime industry to bring the project to reality.

Now the city council’s six-month River Itchen Inquiry is over, a final report of findings is being supplied to the council’s Overview Scrutiny and Management Committee on Thursday.

The ‘blue highway network’ is part of this report – and if the report is approved by OSMC, it will go to the council’s cabinet – and could then become part of official council plans for Southampton.