The first MASS North Sea MoU Symposium was kicked off by Belgium. The event brought together national administrations, class societies, technology providers and the broader maritime industry from Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark and the United Kingdom to discuss Uncrewed Surface Vessel

Uncrewed Surface Vessel, commonly known as USV, is a robotic, remote-controlled or autonomous watercraft that operates on the surface of bodies of water without a crew onboard.

To guarantee safety, security and environmental standards when it comes to new innovations such as the USV, the five MoU Member States presented their current national legal framework at the symposium. The representatives then proceeded to discuss the procedural and operational similarities and differences, priorities under the MoU and the role of classification societies in a discussion moderated by KBRV’s Maritime Innovation & Sustainable Finance executive, Hélène SmidtA key discussion topic was prescriptive regulation versus a more risk-based (case-by-case) approach.

Prescriptive regulation, on one hand, provides clarity through well-defined rules that reduce ambiguity, making compliance more straightforward and uniform. However, such standardized rules can sometimes be overly rigid, limiting flexibility in adapting to unique situations or industry innovations.

Conversely, a risk-based approach offers the flexibility to tailor solutions and fosters innovation but may lead to inconsistencies, as different companies might operate under varying standards, and it requires significant resources. There is a wide spectrum between these approaches and a legal framework at this stage should blend elements of both.

To add another layer of complexity, most USVs are unique, varying significantly in size and purpose, making a one-size-fits-all solution is unlikely. Therefore, USV operators can contribute to regulators’ confidence in new technologies and operations by openly discussing their failures.

The value of this MoU is in strengthening cooperation and mutual recognition among the signatory countries through regular sharing of knowledge and experiences to better align and harmonize their respective frameworks. When asked what inspired them most from one another’s presentations, the panellists mentioned the UK’s Workboat Code, Norway’s experience with passenger vessels, the development of documentation guidelines, website updates, and, importantly, the harmonization of Recognized Organizations (ROs).