Lloyd’s Register’s Chief Growth Officer, Andy McKeran, opened the 2nd day of the 11th Maritime Autonomous Systems Regulatory Working Group (MASRWG) conference by highlighting 2026 as a potentially defining year for maritime autonomy. Strong global momentum is building: the UK Royal Navy is integrating autonomous systems, South Korea has committed $430 million to autonomous ship R&D, and the IMO has made significant progress towards a MASS safety code, with voluntary adoption targeted from 2026 onwards.
The IMO code, however, is high-level and lacks a common operational approach. To implement it practically, the industry must focus on defining clear technical requirements, starting from two foundational concepts:
- Operational Design Domain (ODD): The environmental, geographical, and operational context in which an autonomous system can safely operate.
- Operational Envelope (OE): The specific limits and capabilities of the ship or system.
A third critical pillar is the human element, requiring robust oversight and control mechanisms. Without rigorous definition of these elements, projects risk failure, as evidenced by the high failure rate of AI initiatives.
To accelerate the safe adoption of MASS, collaboration across all stakeholders is essential: owners, operators, insurers, shipyards, regulators, and class societies. Lloyd’s Register plays a key role in this ecosystem by ensuring system traceability and explainability, and by offering assurance frameworks like the MAAT programme (Maritime Autonomy Assurance Test Bed). MAAT combines physical (in Plymouth Sound) and digital test environments to validate technologies in a cost-effective and scalable way.
The presentation showcased several LR-certified craft, including unmanned surface vehicles and hydrogen-powered prototypes, demonstrating that the technology is already operational. The core challenge is no longer technological, but one of assurance—ensuring systems are explainable, traceable, and compliant with existing regulations.
In conclusion, realising the potential of autonomous ships for safety, efficiency, and sustainability requires continued innovation, clear regulation, and strong partnerships, always keeping the human element at the centre of the process.
Source: Andy McKeran, Chief Growth Officer at Lloyd’s Register, during his keynote speech at the 11th Maritime Autonomous Systems Regulatory Working Group (MASRWG) Conference, January 22, 2026.