The UK Ship Register has signed up its first unmanned vessel.
It said UK owner ASV's C-Worker 7 unit can carry out subsea positioning, surveying and environmental monitoring autonomously.
The vessel can also be operated under direct or semi-manned control.
Doug Barrow, director of the UK registry, said: "By supporting emerging technologies such as autonomous systems, we are helping to keep the UK at the forefront of the global maritime industry.
