A recent incident on Lake Erie has brought attention to the growing presence of uncrewed vessels and the potential safety concerns associated with them. 

On 10 August, a Jeanneau Prestige 45 powerboat collided with a SeaTrac uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) near the southern Michigan border, significantly damaging both vessels. 

Lt. Doug Bender of the Monroe Country Sheriff’s Office told Loose Cannon’s Peter Swanson that the powerboat operator was in “somewhat choppy water” with “two-foot waves” and didn’t see the uncrewed vessel travelling at approximately 25mph. 

The impact was severe enough that the vessels became entangled, requiring towing to a Toledo Beach marina in LaSalle Township. Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including the US coastguard, local law enforcement, and environmental authorities. 

Resembling a small sailboat without a sail, the SeaTrac is covered in solar panels that can power the electric motor. Owned by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and described as “semi-autonomous and piloted remotely”, this SeaTrac was on a mission to collect water samples to monitor the most toxic area of the lake’s harmful algal blooms. NOAA stated that the vessel was “sitting in place as planned” at the time of the incident and was monitored remotely every 20 minutes. 

This collision highlights the challenges of integrating uncrewed vessels into maritime environments. While Lt. Bender reported that the SeaTrac was broadcasting its position via AIS, the powerboat operator was not monitoring this system. Questions have arisen regarding the effectiveness of collision-avoidance technology on uncrewed vessels and the protocols for operation. 

The incident aligns with concerns raised by Lt. Brennan Suffern, US Coast Guard, who reported in February that current collision regulations for USVs need to be updated. He noted that “USVs’ remote piloting configuration does not adhere to the 1972 Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (ColRegs).”

Lt. Suffern also pointed out that “the presence of remote lookouts for USVs does not comply with the lookout rule,” which requires the physical presence of a lookout for “proper lookout.”

This event serves as a reminder of the evolving nature of maritime traffic and the importance of adapting safety measures to accommodate new technologies. As this advances, experts call for improved awareness and potentially new rules to govern the interaction between crewed and uncrewed vessels.

Continue reading about uncrewed surface vessels and autonomous vessels. 

Image Courtesy of WTOL-10 News Facebook page via Peter Swanson, Loose Cannon.

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