Key Takeaways
- The US Coast Guard is working to regulate the maritime industry’s adoption of autonomous technology and robotics.
- The Coast Guard is also evaluating the use of advanced maritime technologies, including Long-Range Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and autonomous maritime systems.
- The maritime industry is undergoing a rapid period of transformation, with the adoption of autonomous technology and robotics, as well as threats from drones and cyber-attacks.
- The Coast Guard is working with industry and government partners to oversee the safe deployment and use of autonomous and remote-controlled maritime technology.
- The Coast Guard’s regulatory framework gives Captains of the Port discretion on decision-making, but there are concerns about consistency across individual ports.
Introduction to the Hearing
The US Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Mike Ezell (R-MS) chaired a hearing entitled "Changes in Maritime Technology: Can the Coast Guard Keep Up?" on Tuesday. The hearing discussed the rapid transformation of the maritime industry, including the adoption of autonomous technology and robotics, as well as threats from drones and cyber-attacks. Ezell introduced the hearing by noting the need for the US Coast Guard to rapidly develop a regulatory framework to enable these technologies to operate safely. The hearing aimed to discuss both the Coast Guard’s efforts to regulate the industry and its own use of advanced maritime technologies.
Coast Guard’s Efforts to Regulate the Industry
Rear Admiral David C. Barata, Deputy Commandant for Operations Policy and Assistant Commandant for Intelligence, United States Coast Guard, stated that the Coast Guard established the Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Program Executive Office (PEO) on July 1, 2025. The RAS PEO consolidated multiple offices into one cohesive program dedicated to the acquisition and integration of autonomous capabilities across all Coast Guard missions and domains. The Coast Guard is also evaluating all Long-Range UAS solutions and options to best meet Coast Guard missions. Additionally, the Coast Guard is evaluating current maritime domain dominance and operational needs to determine what state-of-the-art technologies are suitable for closing the Service’s capability gaps.
Cybersecurity Risks and Autonomous Vessels
Rear Admiral Jason P. Tama, Commander, Coast Guard Cyber Command, United States Coast Guard, stated that the Coast Guard is working with industry and government partners to oversee the safe deployment and use of autonomous and remote-controlled maritime technology. However, there are cybersecurity risks associated with autonomous or remote-controlled vessels related to their need for advanced computing and communication technology. The Coast Guard is working within existing authorities to safely integrate autonomous and remote-controlled technologies into the maritime domain, while simultaneously developing new domestic and international frameworks to mitigate risk.
Regulatory Framework and Autonomous Ship Technology
Andrew Von Ah, Director, Physical Infrastructure, Government Accountability Office, stated that local Captains of the Port handle requests for operations and testing of autonomous ships by applying regulations and guidance on a case-by-case basis. The Coast Guard’s regulatory framework gives Captains of the Port discretion on decision-making, but there are concerns about consistency across individual ports. The Coast Guard is working to ensure Captains of the Port have the guidance they need and use the same risk assessment framework to consistently assess project risks within the unique characteristics of each individual port and geographic location.
Advances in Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance
Heidi C. Perry, Chair, Report on Leveraging Unmanned Systems for Coast Guard Missions, National Academies of Sciences, stated that advances in Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities will reap the benefits of a number of breakthroughs in enabling technical capability. These include proliferated satellite constellations, advanced sensors, and generative AI. These technologies have the potential to improve space-based surveillance rates, provide persistent detection, classification, and tracking of vessel traffic, and automate data processing and analysis.
Conclusion
The hearing "Changes in Maritime Technology: Can the Coast Guard Keep Up?" highlighted the rapid transformation of the maritime industry and the need for the US Coast Guard to regulate the adoption of autonomous technology and robotics. The Coast Guard is working to evaluate the use of advanced maritime technologies, including Long-Range UAS and autonomous maritime systems. However, there are concerns about cybersecurity risks, consistency across individual ports, and the need for new domestic and international frameworks to mitigate risk. The Coast Guard is working with industry and government partners to oversee the safe deployment and use of autonomous and remote-controlled maritime technology, while also developing new technologies to improve Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance capabilities.
