Seafar requested a permit from the Joint Nautical Management (JNM) to test remote sailing, in which navigation is carried out from the Seafar Remote Operation Centre (ROC) by a certified ROC operator. However, the vessels involved will continue to be manned by a full crew on board.

The Permanent Committee granted permission for these tests and attached a number of conditions. The permits are valid for 12 months.

Seafar can now navigate remotely in the GNB area, although the Ghent-Terneuzen Canal is not included for the time being. Vessels may be operated remotely day and night, 365 days a year in all weather conditions. During remote navigation, the operator serves as a helmsman under the direct supervision of the skipper, who is still required to be present on board. The operator must follow the skipper's instructions at all times. If the weather is persistently poor, the skipper (on board) will consult with the ROC operator (remote) to decide whether safe remote operation is still possible.

Seafar’s objective is to assess the robustness of the system. The company wants to demonstrate that the technology is sufficiently mature to be introduced in a test phase and intends to involve regulators and authorities throughout this process. The tests will be supervised by the Joint Nautical Management in close cooperation with the Smart Shipping departments/managers at the Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management (Netherlands) and Mobility and Public Works (Flanders). Following the tests, conclusions will be drawn on the viability of the technology.

The JNM will ask the VTS traffic centres to monitor these vessels closely, as it does with all vessels, and report all details to the JNM.

A deliberate decision was made not to use audio or visual identification methods to distinguish Seafar technology vessels from other vessels. This avoids visible differences between 'normal' vessels and those relying on Seafar technology, which prevents unnecessary confusion in shipping traffic and helps integrate technological advances into existing systems smoothly. When reporting at a shipping lane checkpoint, the ship will therefore not automatically report its sailing mode, although the traffic controller is allowed to ask for this information. The operational staff at the JNM has 24/7 access to a Seafar portal showing which mode each vessel is sailing in.

In order to allow shipping lane users, chain partners, and Vessel Traffic Services the opportunity to share their feedback on the tests, the Joint Nautical Management will create an operational working group .

Vessels awarded a permit:
-              DESEO
-              TERCOFIN II
-              FREIENSTEIN
-              MAI-W
-              PERSEVERANCE
-              PRIVILEGE I and II
-              PROGRESS
-              RIVERDRONE 1 to 10 
-              SOUTHFORD