Navigating the Future: Maritime Autonomy, Innovation & Opportunity

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The maritime sector stands at the cusp of transformative change, driven by the rapid advancement of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS). This event convenes key stakeholders across commercial, defence and regulatory domains to explore the evolving role of autonomy in the maritime space and to unlock its full potential as a catalyst for innovation, operational efficiency and economic growth.

Through case studies, strategic insights and a forward-looking panel discussion, the event will spotlight pioneering UK-led initiatives, explore emerging global use cases and identify how the UK can position itself as a world leader in marine autonomy development, deployment and assurance.

Event Objectives:

1. Showcase Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS): Provide the broader commercial maritime industry with a clear understanding of what MASS is, emphasising the transformative potential of lean-crewed operations and decision-support technologies.
2. Bridge Insights Between Defence and Industry: Enable a two-way exchange of knowledge by sharing current developments and use cases from the defence sector with civil and commercial stakeholders, while also drawing on industry innovations to inform defence capabilities. Identify transferable insights and dual-use technologies that can catalyse mutual innovation and operational effectiveness across both domains.
3. Highlight Opportunities and Enablers for Growth: Raise awareness of emerging commercial opportunities in the MASS space and identify the critical enablers (such as targeted dual-use investment, regulatory evolution, regulatory sandboxes and robust assurance frameworks needed to support sustainable sector development.

Proposed Agenda (please note this is subject to change)

• 10:00 – 10:30 – Registration & Networking
• 10:30 – 10:40 – Welcome, Emma Johnson, SMI
• 10:40 – 10:50 – Opening Keynote: The UK’s MASS Opportunity Post-SDR (TBC)
• 10:50 – 11:25 – Case Studies: UK Leadership in Marine Autonomy (6/7 short presentations)
• 11.25 – 11.35 – Summing up the UK capability and looking forward – David O’Sullivan, MASG Chair
• 11.35 – 11.50 – Networking Break
• 11:50 – 12:40 – Panel: The Future of Maritime Autonomy: Opportunities, Insights, and Enablers
• 12:40 – 12:45 – Closing
• 12:45 – 13:30 – Networking Lunch

Short 5-minute case study presentations to include:

1. Maritime Autonomy Assurance Testbed (MAAT) – Andre Burgess, NPL
2. Maritime Regulatory Innovation Framework (MRIF), regulatory sandboxes – Ashley Stehr, Stehr Consulting
3. Acua Ocean, USV Pioneer – James Cowles, Acua Ocean
4. Autonomous decision support in crewed vessels – Nigel Lee, Robosys Automation
5. Advanced Marine Technology Hub, Plymouth – Kevin Forshaw, University of Plymouth
6. Centre for Assuring Autonomy - John McDermid, University of York

Register for the event here.