On April 10, 2025, the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, together with the Russian University of Transport, held an online workshop titled “Autonomous Navigation Technologies for Sustainable Development of the Maritime Industry” as part of the Russia–ASEAN Dialogue Partnership. The event aimed to promote international cooperation and exchange of experience in the implementation of autonomous navigation technologies focused on sustainable growth and increased efficiency of maritime operations.
The workshop was opened with welcoming remarks by Vitaly Klyuev, Director of the Department of State Policy in the field of Maritime and Inland Water Transport of the Ministry of Transport of Russia, and Ms. Kanchana Vanichkorn, Director of the Sectoral Development Directorate of the ASEAN Economic Community Department.
The workshop brought together over 130 participants from  ASEAN Member States, Timor-Leste, and Russia. Among the participants were representatives of maritime authorities, port administrations, classification societies, universities, and industry experts who took part in discussions on autonomous shipping technologies.
In his report, Andrey Balashov from FSUE “Rosmorport” shared Russia Federation’s experience in the operation of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS). During the operations of semi-autonomous ferries “General Chernyakhovsky” and “Marshal Rokossovsky” in Russia, 217,000 nautical miles have been covered, 1.8 million tons of cargo transported, and 1,618 passengers served. It is evidence of the viability of autonomous vessels in real-world conditions. Issues raised included unpredictable maneuvers by other vessels, inaccurate AIS data, and cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
Albert Chernyshov from the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping presented Russia Federation’s achievements in developing the regulatory framework for MASS operations. His presentation covered requirements for design and construction, risk analysis procedures, safety and cybersecurity standards, as well as technical supervision during the production and operation stages of autonomous vessels.
Sergey Sokolov, Vice-Rector of the Russian University of Transport, and Sergey Ayzinov, Director of the Institute of Continuing Professional Education at Admiral Makarov State University of Maritime and Inland Shipping, showcased innovative training programs for MASS crews and Remote Control Center (RCC) personnel. These programs utilize modern simulators with virtual and augmented reality technologies to provide practical skills for MASS crews in collision avoidance and remote operation. The programs were implemented in accordance with international standards of the International Convention and Code on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).
In addition, the Russian University of Transport presented its own scientific achievements in the field of autonomous shipping. In 2023, a full-scale model of an autonomous boat with the second level of autonomy was developed. The boat’s future autonomy level will be raised to the third class (remote control without crew on board), and digital twins of water areas are being created to improve vessel control accuracy.
Dr. Nguyen Van Truong, from Vietnam Maritime University presented National strategy for autonomous navigation in Vietnam, which focuses on research and development on smart ship technologies like autopilot and AI-based traffic control. The roadmap spans from preparation in 2024, Research and Development in 2026, to commercial use by 2030, supported by legal updates, infrastructure, training, and international collaboration to integrate autonomous vessels into Vietnam’s maritime sector.
During the Q&A session of the workshop, the following issues were raised:
- Ensuring a fair and sustainable transition for seafarers from traditional to autonomous shipping, considering the impact on employment for traditional Russian seafarers;
- Exploring joint capacity-building programs for maritime educational institutions in ASEAN countries and Russia to enhance digital skills and readiness for training in new autonomous navigation technologies;
- The needs for development in new areas such as maritime cybersecurity, intelligent shipping, and green maritime technologies.
The Russia–ASEAN workshop emphasized the transformative potential of autonomous shipping technologies in the maritime industry. Addressing cybersecurity issues, regulatory gaps in individual countries, and training needs is possible through international cooperation, which will help create a safe, efficient, and sustainable environment in maritime transport.
The Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation and ASEAN MTWG will explore further cooperation on autonomous navigation particularly capacity building, to support ASEAN towards safer, greener, and more resilient maritime transport in the region.
