Classification society Lloyd‘s Register (LR) has today launched the »Unmanned Marine Systems Code« for the assessment of unmanned marine systems (UMS).
What is called a »goal-based code« is intended to take a »structured approach to the assessment of UMS against a set of safety a[ds_preview]nd operational performance requirements.«
With current and expected developments in autonomous and remote systems LR expects that, within the near future, UMS will enter into widespread use through many sectors of the maritime industry.
According to the classification society, the code provides an assurance process in order to certify the safe design, build and maintenance of UMS against an established framework that minimises the effort required by an owner or operator to achieve certification and which is acceptable to Flag States, local regulators and other parties. Whilst initially targeted at small non-convention sized UMS, including naval systems, it is scalable and is capable of application to larger, more complex vessels as technology and regulation develops.
»It allows for the certification of novel and emerging technologies against a structured framework and is scalable according to the risk profile and autonomy of the systems, from the very small or simple to the very large or complex. It complements our existing work on cyber-enabled ships and is also intended to support any future regulatory development by the IMO or national bodies.«
Tim Kent, LR’s Marine & Offshore Technical Director
LR says, the Code has been written to support innovation by establishing requirements for which compliance can be demonstrated using a tailored combination of standards, or where standards do not exist, the application of risk-based assessment techniques. LR then applies verification methods according to the solution selected. »The benefits of using the goal-based structure is that it defines an ultimate safety objective whilst allowing for the consideration of alternative designs and solutions that meet the safety objective; thereby supporting innovation in an area that is developing rapidly«, it was announced.
