Led by NPL and Lloyd’s Register, the Maritime Autonomy Assurance Testbed (MAAT) programme is driven by a growing consortium of the UK’s national agencies, leading research organisation and industry leaders, including the UK Hydrographic Office, the Met Office, University of Warwick, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, University of Plymouth, Plymouth and South Devon Freeport.  The aim of the MAAT programme is to enable the fastest adoption of MASS (Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships) technology, making autonomy affordable & business viable. This will result in accelerated and increased realisation of benefits of earlier adoption of the technologies.

Underlying MAAT is a proportional, structured and evidence-based approach to test, certify and operationally assure Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS). Outputs will include the creation of standardised and accessible Test and Evaluation capabilities to objectively demonstrate capabilities and limitations of MASS technologies and to assure user requirements are met.

Delivered by expert UK organisations, integrating existing methods and good practice with cutting edge science and cross-sector knowledge, MAAT will provide an enabling platform across the UK for regulatory innovation, wider industry exploitation and a strong international presence. It is acknowledged that international collaboration underpins the advancement of the technologies.  MAAT exemplifies this through strong partnerships with the UK’s allied countries, helping to prevent divergence between countries and fostering a thrive maritime autonomy ecosystem in the future.

MAAT follows a data-driven, evidence-based approach, to deliver an enduring and internationally relevant assurance framework.  MAAT is underpinned by the following pillars of research focus which are interlinked and must be addressed in a coordinated way.   These are supported by pro-innovation standards, and not constrained by existing human-centric approaches.  

Maritime operations are complex and demand globally relevant, adaptive solutions. Existing regulations need to be updated for autonomous technologies, while Safety and compliance frameworks must also evolve to meet these new challenges.  MAAT provides the UK with tools to demonstrate leadership in this space.

• MAAT will provide a platform for UK companies to prove their capabilities to customers that do not yet have the tools to reliably procure, compare or operate these novel technologies.
• MAAT will enable faster development cycles, providing the means to evaluate new technologies with confidence and speed.
• MAAT will facilitate rapid deployment, promote effective government – industry partnerships, and expand trade potential by instilling confidence throughout the UK supply chain, encompassing suppliers, developers, end users, insurers, investors and operators. 

By bringing together the UK’s leading research and innovation capabilities, MAAT will demonstrate national leadership in innovation and technology adoption—providing the confidence to ensure the rapid and successful adoption of one of the most important and fastest growing maritime industries, while also enhancing international science and technology collaboration, supporting the development of enabling capabilities for standardisation, commercialisation, and economic growth, and contributing to both the place and skills agendas through regional investment and workforce development. 

MAAT will become a platform to support and de-risk innovation, enabling greater international trade and R&D collaboration opportunities.