The UK is poised to lead in uncrewed surface vessel (USV) development, backed by strong technical expertise and government initiatives like the Ministry of Defence’s NavyX programme. However, regulatory hurdles are stifling progress, says Matthew Ratsey, MD of Plymouth-based Zero USV, one of two key UK USV developers who spoke to The Naval Architect for our July issue feature on uncrewed vessels.
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) has been criticised for its lack of clarity and slow progress, set against the pace of development established by the USV manufacturers. Frustrated, Ratsey emphasises the transformative potential of USVs, particularly in swarm operations for tasks like offshore wind surveys and fisheries monitoring, but stresses that without a clear regulatory framework, the UK risks losing its edge in this innovative sector to more supportive markets abroad.
His views are echoed by James Williams, CEO of Cornwall-based Uncrewed Survey Solutions (USS). In fact, the lack of regulatory clarity led USS to register its new vessels under the San Marino flag for overseas operations, as the UK’s framework lacks proportionality for smaller USVs, applying the same rules to 1m and 24m vessels alike. The MCA’s recent marine guidance notes (MGN 702 and 705) offer exemptions for USVs under 4.5m, but these measures still limit the operational capacity of USS’ USVs by requiring the removal of payload modules to comply, reducing functionality. Don’t miss the July 2025 issue of The Naval Architect where Ratsey and Williams outline the extent of the problem and what needs to be done to fix it.
