NTSB Calls for New Rules for Uncrewed Vessels After Lake Erie Collision

Investigation finds NOAA research vessel was difficult to detect and lacked proper monitoring, exposing gaps in U.S. maritime safety regulations.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is calling on the U.S. Coast Guard to establish national safety standards for uncrewed surface vessels after an investigation found that a NOAA research vessel was difficult to detect and lacked adequate monitoring when it collided with a recreational boat on Lake Erie.

In findings released Tuesday, the NTSB issued six safety recommendations addressing vessel visibility, collision avoidance, and remote monitoring, highlighting regulatory gaps as uncrewed and autonomous vessels become increasingly common in U.S. waters.

The investigation stems from an August 10, 2024, collision between a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) SeaTrac SP-48 uncrewed surface vessel and a privately owned 45-foot Prestige 450 Flybridge recreational boat approximately six miles east-southeast of Monroe, Michigan.

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