New partnership significant step towards safety assurance in Maritime Autonomy
The Centre for Assuring Autonomy and DNV, the world’s leading classification society, have signed a £750k partnership agreement which will see the development of a safety assurance framework for autonomous navigation of maritime vessels.
Titled ‘A Star to Steer By’, the four-year project will focus on identifying and refining the foundational safety and assurance requirements that guide the development and validation of AI-enabled autonomous maritime systems. These requirements—our “stars to steer by”—will be systematically transformed into practical, validated assurance case patterns.
The CfAA team, composed of Principal Investigator Professor Ibrahim Habli, Dr Colin Paterson, and Dr Philippa Ryan will be developing safety case patterns and testing these in use cases based on AI-based navigation systems. The work will look at how to assure these models both individually and as part of the wider complex maritime environment and eco-system.
The DNV team is led by Project Manager Odd Ivar Haugen, with support from Group Leader Øystein Engelhardtsen and Principal Research Scientist Andreas Hafver, all part of DNV’s strategic research and development unit. They will work in close collaboration with DNV classification and assurance services experts. DNV will play a key role in validating the safety and assurance requirements developed through the project, ensuring they are both practically applicable and aligned with the needs of maritime operators and regulators.
Consisting of four stages, A Star to Steer By will provide a roadmap for industry through the adaptation of robust, peer-reviewed academic papers into applicable guidance for maritime professionals responsible for, or involved in, the adoption of AI and autonomous systems and tools.
“We are delighted to be working with DNV to tackle this important challenge,” said Professor Habli. “By combining our efforts this way in a long-term partnership we have the resources and facilities to effectively address the large-scale and evolving issue of safety assurance and reducing uncertainty in maritime autonomy.”
The collaboration evolved following a delegation of senior representatives from DNV to CfAA’s home in the Institute for Safe Autonomy last year, which established significant common ground and crossover between the work of the CfAA and DNV.
From DNV’s perspective, the collaboration is the result of a long-standing professional interest in the University of York’s research on the assurance of safety-critical systems. DNV first became aware of the University of York’s work over a decade ago and found their approach to safety assurance both inspiring and closely aligned with DNV’s own thinking.
“DNV is a significant and influential organisation in the maritime industry with global operations. Our collaboration brings together two branches of expertise and builds bridges between academia and industry to better understand and address real-world challenges,” adds Professor Habli.
“This collaboration stems from DNV’s recognition of the University of York’s contributions to safety assurance. Their approach has consistently resonated with our own, and I believe that by combining our perspectives, we can develop practical, forward-looking solutions for the maritime industry,” said Odd Ivar Haugen, Project Manager at DNV.
“By combining DNV’s systems-based assurance expertise with the University of York’s academic leadership in AI safety, we’re creating a foundation for robust, actionable guidance. It’s a proactive step towards unlocking the potential of AI and autonomy while managing its risks responsibly,” added Astrid Rusås Kristoffersen, DNV’s Group Director of Research and Development.
The project will also support two full-time PhD studentships based in the UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training in Safe Artificial Intelligence Systems (SAINTS) within the CfAA.
About The Centre for Assuring Autonomy
The Centre for Assuring Autonomy (CfAA) is a £10m partnership between Lloyd’s Register Foundation and the University of York. The CfAA is an independent research and innovation centre which builds on the work of the Assuring Autonomy International Programme. The CfAA is the only such centre wholly dedicated to the safety assurance of AI, autonomous systems, and robotics anywhere in the world, working across all sectors and with partner organisations across the globe. Based in the University of York, UK, the CfAA is influential in the areas of AI regulation, software engineering, safety engineering, and software safety, supporting industry and regulators in the adoption and use of our assurance frameworks, and carrying out novel research.
About DNV
DNV is an independent assurance and risk management provider, operating in more than 100 countries. Through its broad experience and deep expertise, DNV advances safety and sustainable performance, sets industry standards, and inspires and invents solutions.
Whether assessing a new ship design, qualifying technology for a floating wind farm, analysing sensor data from a gas pipeline, or certifying a food company's supply chain, DNV enables its customers and their stakeholders to manage technological and regulatory complexity with confidence.