Maritime Autonomous Systems Regulatory Working Group (MASRWG)
SMI is pleased to support the Maritime Autonomous Systems Regulatory Working Group (MASRWG). Details on their work can be found below:
Guide to Best Practice
The rapid advancement in maritime autonomy has led to the need for updated guidance for those who own and operate Maritime Autonomous Ship Systems (MASS). Although it is not a legal document, the Guide to Best Practice has been adopted by manufacturers, service providers, and others as part of their daily work. Several manufacturers have reported that their clients require compliance with the document for contractual negotiations.
The latest version, Version 9, provides a variety of updated guidance on various topics. In November 2017, the Maritime UK Autonomous Systems Regulatory Working Group (MASRWG) published the first Guide to Best Practice which received worldwide recognition from the industry. The group has been releasing annual updates since then. Lloyd's Register has supported the publication of this version of the Code.
Tom Chant MBE, CEO of the Society of Maritime Industries, said:
“I am delighted that the MASRWG continue to produce such well-regarded guidance in this most rapidly growing of domains. For the UK, autonomy is a key driver of future growth opportunities and fuses our expertise across the sector - professional services, cutting-edge innovation and high-quality manufacturing and design.
The pace of change is accelerating, and as autonomy changes the way we live and work, this Industry Guide to Best Practice serves as valuable guidance on certification, assurance and safety.”
James Fanshawe CBE, the MASRWG Chair, said:
“MASS development and operations continue to become an established part of the maritime scene. The Guide to Best Practice provides the ideal focus to enable industry to develop ahead of the anticipated international and national regulatory frameworks. Version 9 of the Guide to Best Practice provides the platform for a variety of important updates with some new and revised guidance. Whilst this has no legal status, it provides a strong complement to the legal framework emerging from International and National organisations.”
MASRWG Conference 2026
Maritime Autonomous Ship Systems (MASS)
The Journey Continues
21st and 22nd January 2026
DRAFT PROGRAMME
Day 1 – Wednesday 21st January | |||
0850 - 0900 | Welcome | James Fanshawe | Chairman, UK MASRWG |
0900 - 0930 | Opening Keynote | Luke Pollard MP (TBC) | Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry in the UK Government |
0930 – 1000 | IMO Update | Katrina Kemp | MCA |
1000 – 1030 | Enabling the UK maritime autonomy sector | George Clearly | National Shipbuilding Office / SMI Council |
1030 – 1100 | The growing programme emerging as a result of the recent Security and Defence Review | Andy Liddell | 1* DE&S |
1100 – 1130 | Panel Session | Andy Lidell George Clearly Katrina Kemp | Moderated by James Fanshawe. Chairman UK MASRWG |
1130 – 1145 | Coffee | ||
1145 – 1215 | Commercial Opportunities for MASS | Antoon Van Coillie | Zulu Associates |
1215 - 1300 | Lunch | ||
1300 - 1330 | Artificial Intelligence | Tom Rooney / Oliver Thompson | Marine AI |
1330 - 1400 | AI-NAVIGATOR & SAILOR: Advancing Maritime AI for Situational Awareness and Collision Avoidance | Dr Roberto Galaezzi | DTU Denmark |
1400 – 1445 | Panel Discussion | Tom Rooney Antoon Van Coillie Dr Roberto Galaezzi | Moderated by James Fanshawe. |
1445 - 1500 | Closing Remarks | James Fanshawe |
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1500 – 1600 | Sponsor and Networking Session | ||
Day 2 – Thursday 22nd January | |||
0850 – 0900 | Introductory Remarks | ||
0900 – 0930 | Keynote Speaker | Andy McKeran | Lloyd’s Register |
0930 – 1000 | Input on assurance frameworks | Andre Burgess | NPL |
1000 – 1030 | Autonomy in the Air Environment | Neil Hunter | Head of Global Sales, Schiebel |
1030 -1100 | TBC | Dr Caitlin Bentley | Kings College London |
1100 – 1130 | Panel Session | Andre Burgess Paul Burton Dr Caitlin Bentley | Moderated by James Fanshawe |
1130 - 1145 | Coffee | ||
1145 – 1215 | MASS Legal Considerations | Robert Veal | Winter Law |
1215 – 1245 | Providing an update on the US market | Sean Pribyl | Senior Counsel. Holland & Knight LLP, Washington, DC |
1245 – 1330 | Lunch | ||
1330 – 1400 | Hydrographic Data to support autonomous operations | Paul Burton | UKHO |
1400 – 1430 | AI-Enabled Cross-Skilling - Building Resilient Maritime Lean Crewing Operations | Gordon Meadow | CEO SeaBot Maritime |
1430 – 1500 | Project SeaGuard | Capt. Zakirul Bhuiyan | Southampton Solent University |
1500 - 1545 | Panel discussion | Robert Veal Sean Pribyl James Bell Gordon Meadow Zakirul Bhuiyan | Moderated by James Fanshawe |
1545 – 1630 | Sponsor and Networking Session | ||
1630 | Closing Remarks by James Fanshawe | ||
Registration Details
Register for the 11th Maritime Autonomous Systems Regulatory Working Group Conference here.
Virtual Conference Details
The conference will be produced and managed by UKI Media & Events, the team behind Autonomous Ship Technology Expo, utilising the Swapcard platform.
Swapcard is a leading event engagement platform for virtual events. The platform is scalable to allow for events of any size without delegate number limits. The advanced networking capabilities within the platform allow for greater delegate engagement while built-in AI helps connect delegates with the most relevant people at the event.
Further information is available here. UKI Media & Events use a secondary platform called StreamYard to produce and run live panels and use experienced TV directors to mix live panels to give a better viewing experience for the audience.