Unmanned Surface Vehicle Operator

A person who controls or supervises an unmanned surface vehicle (USV), an autonomous or remotely-piloted surface craft used for hydrographic survey, offshore inspection, environmental monitoring, defense, and trials of larger autonomous-ship technology. Operating from a remote control station, the operator monitors the USV’s collision-avoidance behavior, communications, and mission payload. The IMO is developing a goal-based MASS Code (Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships), targeted as a non-mandatory code from 2026 with a mandatory phase targeted for 2032; until then, USV operations run under flag-state and coastal-state trial authorizations.