Autonomy comes under the spotlight in Get Set for Workboat 2050 series

The latest addition to the ongoing Get Set for Workboat 2050 series will focus on the practical implications of the rapid growth of autonomy for vessel operators, ports and the wider workboat sector.

Get Set for Autonomy will also explore the operational benefits of autonomous technology for workboat operators, ports and harbour authorities, from reducing the time and cost of inspections and surveys, to improving vessel utilisation, monitoring assets and carrying out tasks remotely.

Southampton’s world-renowned National Oceanography Centre (NOC) is the ideal setting for this live event, on Thursday 23 September 2027, given its expertise in marine robotics and the development and operation of autonomous underwater vehicles, which famously includes the breakthrough Autosub Long Range (ALR) Boaty McBoatface, a cutting-edge AUV with a 2,000km range.

Get Set for Autonomy will also include practical demonstrations in the NOC’s onsite marina, giving delegates the chance to see autonomous systems in action and consider how they could be applied to their own operations now and in the future.

For both Seawork 2027 exhibitors – who will have already benefitted from an expanded Autonomous Pavilion in June – and the wider commercial marine community, this is an opportunity to see what is happening beyond the headlines, ask practical questions of the people developing and using the technology, and discover where autonomy could save time, reduce costs, address operational pressures and deliver value for their business.

Before and after Seawork, the Get Set for Workboat 2050 series will maintain the conversation beyond the exhibition, bringing the industry together throughout the year to explore how emerging technology can translate into practical benefits for all commercial marine operations.

The programme will be shaped with the Society of Maritime Industries (SMI), the Workboat Association and the UK Harbour Masters Association, keeping the discussion grounded in the day-to-day realities of the sector.

To see the full Get Set for Workboat 2050 schedule simply click here