Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Republic of Korea’s Korean Register (KR) to jointly advance verification and validation frameworks for autonomous maritime systems, strengthening regional and international efforts to enable safe deployment of Unmanned Surface Vessels.
The agreement brings together DSTA’s systems engineering expertise with KR’s established leadership in maritime policy, certification and safety standards. Under the MOU, the two organisations will co-develop a verification and validation framework focused on AI-based perception algorithms and autonomy technologies that underpin safe and reliable USV operations.
As autonomous capabilities gain traction across both defence and commercial maritime domains, robust verification and validation has emerged as a critical enabler for wider adoption. The joint framework is intended to assess how perception and autonomy systems perform in complex maritime environments, helping to address safety, reliability and regulatory confidence challenges.
DSTA said it partnered with Korean Register in recognition of KR’s integrated approach that spans policy, technology and evaluation, as well as its deep technical expertise in maritime certification. The collaboration is expected to see both organisations play complementary roles in promoting international standardisation of safety verification frameworks for autonomous maritime systems.
Mr Ong Li Koon, Director Naval Systems at DSTA, said the partnership reflects the growing importance of shared frameworks as autonomy becomes more prevalent at sea.
“As the maritime sector moves towards broader adoption of autonomous technologies across defence and commercial domains, our partnership with Korean Register to co-develop a unified validation and verification framework will help raise the bar for the safety of autonomous navigation globally,” he said.
KR Executive Vice President Mr Kim Daeheon said the collaboration would contribute to the development of practical testing methodologies and safety guidelines for AI-enabled vessels.
“This collaboration will support the development of robust test methodologies and safety guidelines for AI-based USV systems. Our goal is to enhance the safety and reliability of maritime technology, thereby building public and regulatory confidence in the deployment of autonomous vessels,” he said.
Korean Register plans to leverage the project to further strengthen its position in the maritime AI certification domain while expanding global partnerships. The outcomes of the joint research are expected to inform international standards development and regulatory discussions, contributing to the establishment of a trusted global framework for autonomous ship technologies.
The partnership also reflects broader ASEAN–Korea cooperation in advanced maritime technologies, as regional stakeholders seek to balance innovation with safety, interoperability and regulatory alignment in the next phase of autonomous maritime operations.
