Netherlands Builds 3D Printed Navy Drone Boat in Just 5 Months

Five Months From Concept to Water

The Netherlands has successfully tested a 3D-printed uncrewed surface vessel (USV) that went from initial design to floating prototype in just five months — with the hull itself printed in a single week.

The SeaRush project, led by the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands (MARIN), conducted its first on-water trials in December 2025 in the Rijnhaven in Wageningen. The vessel is designed to support the development, validation, and operational testing of uncrewed maritime systems for the Royal Netherlands Navy.

How They Did It

The approach was deliberately practical. Rather than building everything from scratch, MARIN combined a 3D-printed hull with off-the-shelf components:

• Hull: Printed in one week by Dutch firm IMPACD Boats using large-format additive manufacturing
• Propulsion: Standard Honda outboard engine
• Control: Externally controlled via a system from Italy-based UltraFlex

The goal was not to build the most advanced vessel possible, but to demonstrate that functional naval platforms can be produced rapidly using existing production chains and 3D printing technology.

Why This Matters for Defence

The SeaRush project addresses a growing problem for navies: the need for large numbers of inexpensive, expendable autonomous vessels. Traditional shipbuilding takes years and costs millions. A 3D-printed USV can be designed, built, and deployed in months.

For the Royal Netherlands Navy, the appeal is obvious. Instead of waiting years for a purpose-built vessel, they can iterate quickly on prototypes and potentially scale production in wartime or crisis scenarios.

The Dutch Maritime 3D Printing Ecosystem

This is not an isolated project. Dutch company CEAD recently launched Faber Navalis, a system specifically designed for automated 3D printing of full-scale boat hulls. The Netherlands is positioning itself as a leader in maritime additive manufacturing.

The SeaRush prototype proves the concept works. The next phase will likely focus on integrating autonomous navigation systems and scaling production.

The Bottom Line

A 3D-printed naval vessel was designed and built in five months. The hull took one week. This is not a research curiosity — it is a working prototype being tested for the Dutch navy. The implications for naval shipbuilding, defence procurement, and rapid prototyping are significant.