SAN DIEGO, September 24, 2026 — SIDUS Solutions, LLC, a San Diego-based developer and manufacturer of subsea cameras, lighting, lasers, and positioning systems, today announces a strategic partnership with VSM Associates, a Baltimore-based specialized maritime consulting firm providing expert shipyard consulting and dockmaster services.
The partnership pairs SIDUS’s more than two decades of experience in maritime visualization, surveillance, and situational awareness with VSM Associates’ specialized shipyard operations expertise. Together, the companies will work to bring clear, reliable surveillance above and below the water to shipyard operations — giving crews better visibility, reducing risk, and supporting safer, more efficient work on the waterfront.
As part of the partnership, SIDUS has also joined the Shipyard Autonomy Coalition. The Shipyard Autonomy Coalition brings together forward-thinking companies with a united focus on advancing shipyards into the next era of shipbuilding and repair. Formed in April 2026, the Coalition focuses on accelerating the practical adoption of proven, market-ready automation and autonomous technologies that improve shipyard safety, efficiency, productivity, and capability. SIDUS Solutions has joined this growing partnership, bringing its expertise in subsea imaging, lighting, and visual inspection technologies to help advance real-world solutions that can be put to work in shipyards today.
SIDUS Solutions systems combine high-definition subsea cameras, lighting, and projection lasers, designed to deliver exceptional image clarity and control of these and related underwater systems.using precision pan-and-tilt positioners. All are designed and manufactured in-house.
“Shipyards across the country are investing in modernization, and visibility above and below the waterline is central to doing that work safely and efficiently. Partnering with VSM Associates and joining the Shipyard Autonomy Coalition positions SIDUS for the shipyard of the future, and we will continue investing in the products and services this market needs.”
— Tom Hernandez, President, SIDUS Solutions
“We are tremendously optimistic about what this strategic partnership between VSM Associates and SIDUS Solutions represents—not only for our two companies, but for the future of the shipbuilding and repair industry. The Shipyard Autonomy Coalition was founded on the belief that the technologies needed to transform our shipyards are not decades away; many of them exist today. By bringing together companies with proven capabilities and a shared willingness to innovate, we have an opportunity to move beyond talking about the shipyard of the future and begin building it. This is an exciting time for our industry, and I believe we are only beginning to see what is possible.”
— David Von Schmidt, Managing Director, VSM Associates
About SIDUS Solutions
SIDUS Solutions, LLC is a San Diego-based small business founded in 2000. The company specializes in security and video surveillance systems for research, heavy industry, commercial, military, and energy markets worldwide. Its core subsea product line — underwater positioners, ultra-high-definition and IP subsea cameras, subsea lighting, projection lasers, and inspection systems — is designed and manufactured in-house, complemented by topside engineering, systems integration, and installation services. Learn more at SIDUS-Solutions.com
About VSM Associates
VSM Associates is a Baltimore-based maritime advisory services firm specializing in shipyards and dry dock operations. Its multidisciplinary team of NAVSEA-certified Dock Masters, Naval Architects, Master Mariners, and management consulting professionals provides technical and operational advisory services focused on dry docking, shipyard infrastructure, risk management, training, and operational performance. Learn more at vonschmidtmaritime.com.
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