A new research collaboration between the Alan Turing Institute, Lloyd’s Register and Lloyd’s Register Foundation aims to support the development of standards that could accelerate the adoption of autonomous shipping.
The project will focus on developing an open-source systems engineering framework to guide the development of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS). Researchers say the framework will define the full lifecycle of autonomous vessel development, from design and architecture analysis to testing, evaluation and long-term operation.
The initiative will also incorporate expertise from across the maritime sector, including developers, manufacturers and vessel operators, to ensure the framework reflects real-world requirements.
According to the partners, autonomous shipping could play an important role in improving safety and supporting decarbonization across the maritime industry. Autonomous navigation systems (ANS), for example, have the potential to optimize fuel efficiency through AI-driven route planning, improve accident prevention and response systems, and increase supply chain efficiency through faster port turnarounds.
However, researchers say the safe deployment of these technologies requires clear and reliable standards.
While the International Maritime Organization is developing a Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships code to regulate the technology, additional technical guidance is still needed, particularly for software development and systems engineering processes.
The new research project aims to address this gap by defining development practices for areas including modeling, simulation, software engineering, machine learning operations, system integration, testing and sustainment.
The framework will also inform a ShipRight procedure, providing detailed guidance on system design and software principles to help ensure autonomous systems are safe, reliable and compliant throughout their lifecycle.
Dr Chris Nathan, policy fellow for the Sustainability Mission at the Alan Turing Institute, said the project will bring together expertise from across the industry to help establish effective standards.
“The Turing’s strong expertise in AI and policy allows us to provide an architecture for the design of autonomous systems,” Nathan said. “There’s huge potential for improvements in sustainability, but this depends on the development of strong and robust standards that ensure security and safety.”
Joseph Morelos, complex and autonomy systems leader at Lloyd’s Register, said the work will help support the implementation of emerging regulations.
“Lloyd’s Register is committed to developing standards that enable the collaborative development of MASS systems across maritime stakeholders including shipyards, system integrators, equipment manufacturers, software providers and start-up companies,” he said.
He added that the systems engineering standard will help implement the IMO MASS Code and support the safe and commercially viable deployment of autonomous vessel technologies across different ship types.
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