The Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN) has reinforced its role as a strategic infrastructure for the safe development of unmanned maritime navigation at the annual meeting of the European Commission’s High Level Steering Group (HLSG), which is an expert in the development and regulation of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS), held this week at the headquarters of the Port Authority of Las Palmas.
The meeting, coordinated by the Directorate General of the Merchant Marine (DGMM) of the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, brought together institutional representatives and European experts to analyze the progress of autonomous maritime navigation and its implications for safety, regulations, and systematic operation.
The session enabled the alignment of European priorities with the work being carried out within the International Maritime Organization (IMO), particularly regarding the progressive adaptation of the international regulatory framework to the introduction of autonomous and semi-autonomous ships. In this context, the need for coordinated progress among Member States, maritime authorities, industry sector, and the scientific community was emphasized, ensuring a safe, sustainable deployment compatible with existing international conventions.
Whitin the meeting, PLOCAN joined as speaker alongside leading entities in the sector, in a specific session addressed to innovative technological solutions, test bench projects, and the regulatory framework for unmanned maritime navigation in Spain. The presentation shared practical experiences related to the validation of MASS systems in real-world environments, as well as reflecting on the regulatory and operational challenges associated with their integration into conventional maritime traffic.
PLOCAN highlighted its capabilities as unique scientific and technical services infrastructure (ICTS) in the maritime sector, with a solid track record in supporting marine R&D and technology transfer. The PLOCAN-ICTS has extensive experience in operating unmanned marine systems and platforms, including surface and underwater vehicles, as well as in managing marine testing areas in the Canary Islands, which offer unique conditions for validating emerging uncrewed technologies in a safe and controlled environment.
Asimismo, se subrayó el bagaje de PLOCAN en colaboraciones con socios estratégicos del ámbito público y empresarial, alineadas con la Estrategia de Economía Azul, tanto a nivel regional, nacional como europeo. Esta capacidad de cooperación y su rol como banco de pruebas para soluciones innovadoras refuerzan la posición de Canarias y de España como actores relevantes en el desarrollo responsable de la navegación autónoma, contribuyendo a los objetivos estratégicos de la OMI y de la Unión Europea en materia de digitalización, seguridad marítima y sostenibilidad.
