Advancing maritime autonomy safety: BMT’s SEAS testing paves the way for uncrewed vessel operations.
BMT has successfully partnered with ATLAS ELEKTRONIK UK
(AEUK) to advance autonomous maritime navigation by utilising BMT’s proprietary
Synthetic Environment Assurance Service (SEAS) testbed. This collaboration
rigorously assessed AEUK’s cutting-edge autonomous navigation system, ARCIMS,
delivering critical insights into its decision-making capabilities and
compliance with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
(COLREGs). ARCIMS, a leading-edge maritime platform designed for modularity and
adaptability, offers advanced capabilities for autonomous mine warfare and
unmanned vessel operations. Leveraging its proprietary SEAS testbed, BMT
evaluated the ARCIMS system’s ability to operate safely and effectively in
complex and dynamic maritime environments.
BMT’s SEAS testbed enabled the testing of AEUK’s system in
detailed synthetic maritime environments, replicating complex operational
scenarios under controlled, repeatable conditions. By providing robust
assurance through this innovative approach, BMT has supported the system’s
readiness for certification and deployment, advancing the safe integration of
autonomous systems in real-world maritime operations.
This collaboration addressed a pivotal challenge in
maritime autonomy - ensuring that the autonomous navigation system meets the
stringent requirements of COLREGs compliance. Using BMT’s SEAS platform, AEUK’s
system was tested in a wide array of high-pressure scenarios designed to
stress-test its algorithms and reveal actionable insights for refinement.
ARCIMS tested on the BMT high fidelity REMBRANDT maritime simulator
“BMT’s partnership with ATLAS ELEKTRONIK UK underscores the
importance of simulation-based assurance in developing safe, reliable
autonomous systems,” said
Will Alexander, Campaign Lead for Maritime Autonomous Systems at BMT and a
master mariner and hydrographic surveyor.
“Building trust in AI decision-making is equally vital.
Trustworthy AI must be embedded into the foundation of autonomous systems, and
this project exemplifies how that principle is part of the very DNA of our SEAS
testbed, ensuring systems are not only compliant but also capable of making
informed, seamanlike decisions in dynamic maritime environments.”
BMT’s work in this collaboration also highlights its role
in supporting the progress of maritime autonomous systems (MAS) compliance. BMT
provides technical input into the UK’s Defence Maritime Regulator (DMR)
guidelines and tools, maintaining positions on influential groups such as the
Society of Maritime Industries Autonomy Council and the Maritime Autonomous
Systems Regulatory Working Group. This commitment reinforces BMT’s influence in
shaping the future of autonomous maritime safety and standards.
The SEAS testbed project delivered vital optimisation and
value to AEUK, the UK Naval Authority Technical Group (NATG), and the broader
maritime community. By using advanced simulation capabilities, BMT reduced the
costs and risks associated with live testing and provided essential evidence
for the system’s certification. The testing defined safe operational envelopes
and identified areas for algorithmic refinement, ensuring confidence in the
system’s deployment.
ATLAS ELEKTRONIK UK’s Principal Software
Engineer for Command, Control, and Autonomy Systems, Ian Renton, reflected on
the collaboration:
“In my view, this type of exercise is an invaluable
addition to our existing test procedures. Working with specialist navigators
and running scenarios specifically tailored to catch COLREGs ‘edge’ cases
allowed us to identify areas for improvement in future algorithm versions. I
was pleased to hear it said several times that our vessel was making safe
decisions and, in some cases, clever solutions, while maintaining COLREGs
compliance and safe standoff from other vessels.”
Stephen Perry, from the UK Ministry of Defence
(MOD) Naval Authority and Technology Group (NATG) – Propulsion, Manoeuvring
& Navigation Systems, then concluded:
“Establishing the MASS SEAS assurance methodology has
enabled the Naval Authority (NA), as the safety certifying body for MOD
shipping, to delegate the assessment of the COLREG capability of innovate new
platforms using cutting edge technology to a Recognised Organisation (RO). The
RO provides an independent third-party report, compiled using an approved
syllabus of tailored tests conducted in a Type-Approved high-fidelity synthetic
environment, which enables the NA to define a safe operating envelope and certification
for the MASS. MASS SEAS is one of the tools enabling the UK MOD to establish
one of the world’s first frameworks for the certification of marine autonomy.”
BMT’s influence in maritime autonomy
Accelerating the safe introduction of MAS is a critical
priority for the defence sector, and BMT is at the forefront of this
transformation. With expertise in simulation, maritime engineering, and
significant contributions to UK defence regulation and MAS compliance, BMT
continues to be a trusted partner in advancing autonomous systems. By
leveraging cutting-edge technologies, regulatory insights, and decades of
maritime expertise, BMT ensures that MAS are developed and deployed with
safety, efficiency, and the trust of operators and stakeholders at their core.
This partnership builds on BMT’s legacy of innovation,
exemplified by its globally recognised REMBRANDT technology, which has set new
benchmarks for navigation risk assessment and immersive simulation. Through
this bilateral and unique combination of innovation and operational excellence,
BMT remains a driving force in shaping the future of maritime autonomy.
For more information, please visit BMT's website.