EDINBURGH—Zelim, an Edinburgh-based start-up pioneering unmanned search and rescue systems, including the world’s first remotely operated rescue vessel, has secured £2.3m equity investment. Most of the funding comes from lead investor, Kero Development Partners and Aberdeen-based I7V, who are following initial investment in Zelim’s seed round in 2020, the company announced Dec. 6.

Zelim aims to make the ocean a safer place to work by improving the chances of finding and recovering people in distress while limiting the exposure to danger that rescuers face. The company recently launched its patented Swift rescue conveyor and will release Guardian, the world’s first fast rescue craft, with the flexibility of both crewed and uncrewed operation modes, in 2023.

“We are proud and excited to have led this latest financing round for Zelim. The products they are developing will change the face of offshore rescue—more lives will be saved and it will be quicker and safer for search and rescue services to perform their roles,” said Zac Hall, Kero’s managing director. “Zelim is as perfect an example of a mission-focused team and business that you will see.”

Zelim has its sights set on revolutionizing emergency response for the whole maritime sector but has focused to date on the fast-growing offshore energy market to launch its technology. The company is also funded by the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP), an industry backed program supporting innovative United Kingdom supply chain companies.

“We are delighted to welcome Kero as a new shareholder in the company,” said Zelim CEO Sam Mayall. They are one of the few investors focused on technology hardware and have highly relevant experience to help us commercialize. We also welcome further investment from I7V, who have supported us over the last 18 months with their CEO, Doug Duguid, in post as chairman of the board. It has been an incredible journey so far for the team and 2023 is set to be an exciting year with Guardian leaving the yard in spring.”

In June 2022, Zelim conducted live demonstrations of its search and rescue technology to the U.K. and U.S. coast guards at Race Bank Offshore Wind Farm, off the coast of Norfolk in the U.K.