Autonomous vessel trials team to support charity swim by Invictus Games veteran

A boat crew which is usually busy testing unmanned surface and underwater vessels will be providing safety cover for a fund-raising swim across Plymouth Sound to support a rehabilitation service for members of the military and emergency services.

Despite losing both legs and one arm in an explosion while serving in Afghanistan, ex-Royal Marine Mark Omrod MBE is set to swim across 1km of open water on Friday morning, 28 May 2021 between Drake Island and Devil’s Point in Plymouth, with a group of supporters.

Safety for Mark’s challenge will be provided by a boat team from Turnchapel Wharf, a former Royal Marines base which is now the country’s leading test centre for surface and underwater unmanned vessels, run by the technology company Thales.

Thales offered the use of one of its rigid inflatable boats (RIB) and a crew of two who are normally busy working on trials for maritime drone technology carried out at Turnchapel Wharf. The crew are qualified boat handlers, trained to deal with emergencies at sea. 

Operations manager at Turnchapel Wharf Ryan Collins said: “Our main job will be to keep an eye on the swimmers around Mark and if anyone signals for help, we will react accordingly. Of course, we hope there will be no issues and we’ll be back for a cup of tea and a job well done.” 

The technology company Thales established its site in Turnchapel Wharf in 2018 at the cost of £1 million and is the UK leading site for trialling autonomous technology in the maritime environment. The centre also provides a testing resource to marine businesses in the southwest.

Currently, the centre’s staff is working on trials for the Royal Navy’s Maritime Mine Countermeasures programme, developing autonomous craft to seek out and destroy mines at sea without putting sailors’ lives at risk.

Friday’s swim is the latest in a series of challenges that Mark is tackling throughout 2021 to for REORG. The charity helps serving personnel and veterans of the military and emergency services to recover from physical and mental trauma.

Now an athlete, author and motivational speaker, in 2007 Mark was caught in an improvised explosive device blast while on foot patrol in Helmand, suffering injuries so serious they resulted in a triple amputation.

Told he would never walk again, in 2008, just six months after losing his limbs, Mark walked across a Parade Ground to receive his operational medal. Since being medically discharged from the Royal Marines in 2010, he has won 11 medals, including four golds, at the Invictus Games.

One of his gold medals was for the 50m breaststroke. He was also a torchbearer in the run-up to the 2012 London Olympic Games.

David Evans, Customer Services and Support Director for Underwater Systems at Thales and himself a former Royal Marine, will be one of the Thales employees supporting Mark down at the event.

David said: “We are very happy to be able to support both Mark and for the wider community. He is so inspiring and is doing this to raise money for a really great cause and we wish him every success.”

You can support Mark at his fundraising page.