Report: British Navy harnesses Marine AI to improve uncrewed vessel interoperability and responsiveness.

The United Kingdom has taken a new step in maritime autonomy research with the launch of a joint project led by the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) and Plymouth-based Marine AI, as reported by Australian Defence. This program aims to equip uncrewed vessels with the ability to communicate in natural language with other ships, a development presented as essential to improving safety and efficiency in mixed fleet operations at sea. Initial trials, which began the previous week, are taking place in the Plymouth and Portsmouth test areas, underscoring the growing importance of interoperability between manned and autonomous platforms.
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 Higher-profile platforms such as the Patrick Blackett and the XV Excalibur will also participate in the experiments (Picture source: Marine AI)

According to Oliver Thompson, Marine AI’s Technical Director, the central goal of this initiative is to demonstrate that an autonomous system can use natural language intelligible to mariners in real operational conditions. At present, uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) rely either on strictly coded protocols or on human supervision, which limits their responsiveness in dynamic or complex situations. The new project seeks to close this gap by developing an autonomy system capable of understanding and generating contextualized linguistic exchanges, enabling USVs to interact smoothly with manned or unmanned counterparts in much the same way a human operator would.

The program builds on proof-of-concept work already conducted by Marine AI in the field of large language models (LLMs). Supported by DASA funding, this new phase focuses on real-world testing to validate the effectiveness and robustness of the technology. Integrating natural language communication is seen as a prerequisite for ensuring the safety of operations in maritime environments where autonomous platforms and conventional ships increasingly coexist.

The trials will involve Marine AI’s Oceanus12 vessel along with other support craft. Higher-profile platforms such as the Patrick Blackett and the XV Excalibur will also participate in the experiments. The exchanges generated by the system will be assessed by experienced captains, with their evaluations compiled into a formal report designed to measure the relevance and reliability of the technology. The ultimate aim is to build sufficient trust to enable the integration of this capability into routine maritime operations.

Marine AI highlights that the growing presence of autonomous platforms has exposed a persistent challenge: the absence of fluid, contextual communication between them and conventional maritime traffic. The project seeks to address this issue by offering the first demonstration of natural language interoperability between manned and unmanned vessels. If successful, it could pave the way for the safer integration of USVs into dense maritime areas while reinforcing the United Kingdom’s position as a pioneer in naval autonomy.

From an operational perspective, the benefits of natural language communication are immediate. In maritime surveillance missions, for example, an uncrewed vessel capable of conversing naturally can coordinate its actions more rapidly with manned ships or shore-based command centers. This ability reduces the risk of misunderstandings, a critical factor in congested environments where safety depends on rapid and appropriate responses. It also facilitates the integration of USVs into mixed fleets, whether for military operations, search and rescue, or counter-piracy missions. By communicating in a way similar to a human crew, these systems foster trust among sailors and allied partners, accelerating their acceptance in multinational operations.

The partnership between Marine AI and DASA marks an important step toward the broader integration of uncrewed vessels into future maritime navigation. By equipping USVs with the ability to communicate naturally with human counterparts, the United Kingdom seeks to improve safety and efficiency at sea while consolidating its role as a leader in naval innovation. This initiative has the potential to redefine communication standards between manned and autonomous platforms and open the way to wider adoption of advanced autonomy technologies.