Page 35: of Marine News Magazine (April 2020)

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AUTONOMOUS WORKBOATS ing up. Black says only modest guidelines exist today, though ating existing regulations (COLREGS, SOLAS, etc.) for po- there has been much progress toward addressing key issues. tential impacts on autonomy, and determine whether existing

From a technology developer’s standpoint, he says, “Part of rules need to be changed, rewritten or something new must our challenges is not only to conform to what’s required, but be developed. “The impact of each existing regulation is being also help to work with regulatory to help de?ne those regula- evaluated to see how autonomy will be addressed,” he says. tory requirements so that technology can become available.” “At a regional level, port states are evaluating how they’ll man-

Sea Machines is working alongside regulators and class with age autonomy in their speci?c locales.” full con?dence that acceptance and clear guideline on what “ABS has established rules and requirements over many is required will determined in a way that makes sense, Black years in areas like automation and software quality and cyber says. “We look at it as a cooperative, non-antagonistic rela- to build some of the foundational references and elements that tionship. Everybody’s trying to get to the same end. Every- will be needed to move and transition into an autonomous body knows it’s coming, but we all want to be prudent on world,” Carlucci says. “We have published the ABS Advisory how it’s adopted.” on Autonomous Functionality and are continuing work on

Carlucci agrees progress is being made: “The regulatory our development of requirements for autonomy. They will landscape is changing and developing.” build upon the foundational elements that smart systems has

At an international level, the IMO is in the midst of a scop- put in place. The primary focus is to maintain the safety of the ing exercise where members and working groups are evalu- vessel as the new technologies are applied.” '% $ %( % ( ")# $ & * % ") + % / %!33 4 &

Credit: Sea Machines 35 www.marinelink.com MN