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Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships

  • Overview

As a part of this group, you will be discussing early-stage research and technologies that can be used in defence, energy, and oceanography (US led) and in the skills needs for this emerging area (Europe led). 

The group is interested in both unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) which are controlled remotely, and autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs) which are self-sufficient and once deployed do not require any operator intervention. Both types of automated vehicles can be utilised widely in the marine sector from research and environmental monitoring programmes to naval and defence applications. The benefits provided will likely result in an expansion in marine autonomous and unmanned systems across multiple marine disciplines. 

If you are interested in joining the group, log in to My IMarEST and select the group from the list.

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07 Oct 2026

From MASS code to maritime practice

Liam Talbot, co-chair of our MASS Special Interest Group discusses the challenges in taking new IMO rules from policy to practice. 

Blog - Technical & Policy
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02 Oct 2024

Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships Report: September 2024

Report
COVER_MASS SIG REPORT JANUARY 2024 featured image 575x300px.png
02 Apr 2024

Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships Quarterly Report: 2023 - 2024

Report
07 Dec 2023

A Letter from the new Co-Chairs

SIG News

 

      

SIG officers

Dr Julius Partridge MIMarEST

Chair

Dr Panagiotis Stavrakakis CSci CEng FIMarEST

Chair

Mr Liam Talbot CEng CMarEng MIMarEST

Chair

Upcoming events

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Free
28 October 2026

Emergency Response and Technical Integrity Management for FPSOs and Floating Offshore Assets

A webinar by the IMarEST's Offshore Oil & Gas SIG.

SIG event Online
Aberdeen Branch
Free External
28 October 2026

Technical Presentation

An event by the IMarEST's Aberdeen Maritime Branch.

Branch event Aberdeen, UK
Image for Shipping’s billion-dollar methanol gamble (6250)
External
29 October 2026

Methanol-fuelled engines for the maritime sector

An event by the IMarEST's BeNeLux Branch.

Branch event Delft
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External
31 October 2026

Cyprus Annual Gala Dinner 2026

The Annual Gala Dinner Dance of the IMarEST's Cyprus Branch.

Branch event Cyprus
About IMarEST

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