NTSB recommends new safety standards for uncrewed vessels

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued six safety recommendations following an investigation into a 2024 collision on Lake Erie between a recreational motor yacht and an uncrewed surface vessel (USV) operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The collision occurred near Monroe, Michigan, when a 45-foot recreational vessel struck a SeaTrac SP-48 research craft. The NTSB determined the probable cause was the USV’s inadequate detectability and insufficient active monitoring, which left the craft without a proper lookout. The USV had only about one foot of freeboard, lacked a radar reflector, and its cameras were switched off at the time of impact.

As uncrewed vessels become more common in waterways, the NTSB is calling on the U.S. Coast Guard to develop national standards for perceptibility, collision avoidance, and navigational safety. Additionally, NOAA was advised to require detectability testing and monitoring based on a vessel's level of autonomy, while SeaTrac Systems was urged to modify the SP-48 design to improve visibility.