Lloyd's Register and Sagar Defence partner on autonomous maritime certification

Lloyd's Register (LR) and Sagar Defence Engineering Limited (SDEL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish certification and regulatory pathways for autonomous and remotely operated maritime systems.

The partnership aims to bridge the gap between technological innovation and operational deployment. By combining LR’s expertise in classification and regulatory compliance with SDEL’s experience in developing autonomous platforms, the collaboration will focus on moving these systems from the concept stage to approved operation.

Key objectives include developing practical approaches for verification, validation, and testing, as well as creating assurance methodologies and classification readiness assessments. The organizations also intend to work with regulators, government agencies, and industry stakeholders to shape the rules, guidance, and safety frameworks necessary for widespread industry adoption of autonomous maritime technology.