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Additionally, most of the work would have been charge- able, according to the MCA's statutory duty. Now, Slater and his team work on a nonchargeable basis, providing advice and guidance as a non-statutory function, allow- ing for even earlier engagement when vessels or systems are still on the drawing board and can incorporate regula- tory feedback.

Despite being a newly established function, UKMIH is already tracking performance indicators and seeing posi- tive results. Success was once measured in the number of inquiries received on a weekly basis. Now, the MCA is moving into tracking how many projects are successful in their outcome. "Either we can say to the innovator, 'We're not going to regulate you,' or 'This is your regu- latory path,' and hand them off to another part of the

MCA. Or we need to hold their hand through the regula- tory pathway so that they can understand and they have a single touch point where they can come back to it all times," he explained.

These indicators also represent a positive understanding of the industry and its needs. "Especially in the MASS

Credit: Jonty Slater/Maritime and Coastguard Agency space," Slater added. "In terms of mapping the ecosys- tem and engaging with our international partners, it's been really valuable among our colleagues to actually be "I think the key part is how able to support their work. They can come to us and say, can we move the perception 'We've been hearing about this; what's actually happen- ing?' And they can know that we are a voice that can help of the MCA in the past as an support the wider work and make sure the MCA under- stands what the industry actually needs." organization that may have been known to say, "no," to

Charting the course

The UK maritime industry plays a unique regulatory yes. If you can give us the role, he noted, setting the standard for vessels with spe- safety information, if you ci? c, well-de? ned guidance and leadership stance. "We know that there are a number of countries around the can give us an understand- world that look at those regulations and say, 'How can we ing of why you believe that incorporate some or all of those regulations in our coun- try?' Others have looked at it and asked, 'Do we need to you're going to be safe, we have that level of regulation?'" will look at it in a proper

The UK's dedication to maritime regulation stems from its busy waters; a high number of vessels requires safety and clear way." standards for all on the water. "The MCA's role," Slater clari? ed, "is to regulate the vessels, not the waters. We regulate the vessels to make sure they are safe for other – Jonty Slater, assistant water users." The MCA also only regulates surface ves- sels, as opposed to subsurface ones. director at the UKMIH

The UK's waters are home to a variety of vessels, from www.marinetechnologynews.com 41

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