Toward a structured framework for control performance and safety assessment for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships

Abstract

As the maritime industry moves toward fully autonomous operations, it is becoming increasingly important to assess the control performance and safety of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships. This chapter presents a structured framework designed to facilitate testing and data collection using autonomous ship systems, thereby supporting the verification that autonomous operations align with International Maritime Organization standards. We discuss the integration of key hardware and software components for robust autonomous operation and evaluate these systems using analytical performance criteria in both simulated and real-world scenarios. The chapter concludes by proposing new key performance indicators necessary for the continued development of autonomous maritime systems. Through extensive datasets and collaborative research via Open Science-focused algorithms and designs, we aim to set the groundwork for future advancements in this field.