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An autonomous surface drone operated by the Royal Navy collided with the Lutine, an X 55 owned by the Lloyd's Yacht Club, while it was participating in an exercise in the Port of Portsmouth. Both vessels sustained minor damage and were able to return to sea after the incident. The British Navy has launched an investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the collision.
A collision during a Royal Navy exercise
The incident occurred during a training exercise involving a Rattler, an unmanned surface vessel developed as part of the Royal Navy's experiments with autonomous systems.
According to information provided by the British Navy, the exercise was taking place in an authorized area off the coast of Portsmouth. The Lutine was underway at the time of the collision. A photograph released after the accident shows a dent on the starboard stern of the sailboat, which is currently undergoing repairs at Hamble Point Marina.
The Lloyd's Yacht Club confirmed the collision without offering any further comment.
The Rattler program takes place amid maritime traffic
The Rattlers are used by the Fleet Experimentation Squadron to evaluate the use of autonomous vessels alongside traditional Royal Navy units.
Unlike many trials conducted in enclosed areas, these experiments are taking place off the coast of Portsmouth, one of the busiest waterways in the United Kingdom. Ferries, tugboats, military vessels, recreational boats, and sailboats share the waters there on a daily basis.
Notices to mariners issued by the King's Harbor Master specify that the tests are conducted under the supervision of a remote piloting center. Each mission is accompanied by a safety vessel tasked with intervening if the situation requires it. The procedures also require, whenever possible, maintaining a minimum distance of 200 m from other vessels and complying with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS).
An investigation into the circumstances of the collision
The Royal Navy did not specify whether the Rattler was operating in fully autonomous mode or under remote control at the time of the collision. Nor has it specified whether the security vessel accompanying the exercise attempted to intervene before the collision, or whether this incident will lead to changes in the program?s operating procedures.
In a statement, the Royal Navy simply said that an investigation is underway and that the two ships sustained what were described as minor damages before setting sail again.
According to the British daily *The Sun*, other vessels have reportedly already had to change course during previous trials of the program, including a ferry traveling between Gosport and Portsmouth and a tugboat.
A program designed to prepare for future naval operations
The Rattler program is contributing to the development of the Royal Navy's future fleet, which will include manned vessels, surface drones, autonomous underwater vehicles, and unmanned aircraft.
Built on a semi-rigid airframe by SYOS Aerospace, based in Fareham, the seven units currently designated AIS Rattler 1 through Rattler 7 are used to test various tactical scenarios.
Among the concepts being studied is, in particular, the simultaneous use of several autonomous vessels operating in a group to support warships during naval operations.
The collision with the Lutine is the first publicly reported incident involving this experimental program in the heavily trafficked waters of the Solent. Once the findings of the investigation are known, they will shed light on the circumstances of this collision and any adjustments that may be made to future trials.
