BOTIX Joins the 2026 Green and Intelligent Ship Industry Conference to Advance Maritime Autonomy from Demonstration to Scale

The 2026 Green and Intelligent Ship Industry Conference was recently held in Huzhou. As a pioneer in maritime autonomy, BOTIX Navigation (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd. was represented by Vice President Dr. Liu Wen, who delivered a presentation titled Technology Development and Industrial Deployment of Autonomous Navigation Systems for IMO MASS. The presentation outlined BOTIX’s work in core technology development, real-world scenario validation, and industrial deployment, attracting broad interest from conference participants.

Centered on the theme “From Demonstration to Scale,” the conference brought together government representatives, industry think-tank experts, and executives from leading companies across the shipbuilding value chain. Participants discussed technological innovation in new-energy inland vessels, policy implementation, commercial deployment, and the development of a coordinated industry ecosystem, exploring practical pathways for green and intelligent vessels to progress from demonstration projects to scaled adoption.

The smart shipping industry is entering a critical transition from pilot demonstration to scaled deployment. Internationally, the IMO’s first global International Code of Safety for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS Code), currently a non-mandatory instrument, took effect on 1 July 2026. In China, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, and the State Administration for Market Regulation jointly issued the Smart Shipping 2030 Action Plan, providing clear policy direction for industry development.

As technical standards evolve and supporting policies are implemented, a central industry question is how to continue advancing maritime autonomy technologies and translate them into safe, reliable, replicable, and scalable applications.

Dr. Liu explained that BOTIX is committed to advancing maritime autonomy and helping move MASS from a technological vision toward real-world deployment. Developed with the IMO MASS Code framework in mind, the BOTIX Autonomous Navigation System integrates full-stack capabilities across perception, positioning, decision-making and planning, control, and vessel drive-by-wire, supported by a closed-loop data framework for continuous algorithm improvement. Together, these capabilities support end-to-end autonomous navigation.

The system has completed CCS Approval in Principle review and proof-of-concept prototype validation. It supports the Nn requirements for end-to-end autonomous navigation and the A1 requirements for autonomous vessel operation under the CCS Rules for Intelligent Ships. The system can be adapted to different vessel types and propulsion systems, providing strong scenario adaptability and functional scalability while supporting improved navigational safety and operational efficiency.

Situational awareness provides the essential foundation for an autonomous navigation system to understand its environment, assess developing situations, and make decisions. During the conference, Dr. Liu highlighted BOTIX’s progress in intelligent maritime perception.

The vision-based NaviSight N3 Situational Awareness System combines multi-source sensor fusion with AI technology. It helps address the limitations of human visual lookout under low-light and reduced-visibility conditions, enabling earlier risk detection and a clearer understanding of the surrounding navigational situation.

The millimeter-wave-based T2 4D Imaging Small-Target Radar addresses the challenge of detecting and clearly resolving small targets in complex waters and across varying operating conditions. It delivers particularly strong perception performance under adverse weather conditions.

During the conference visit, participants boarded Auto Spring, a next-generation green and intelligent vessel purpose-designed by BOTIX. Equipped with the BOTIX Autonomous Navigation System, Auto Spring has completed multiple rounds of on-water autonomous navigation trials along the Meihu route.

The vessel can complete normal transits along predefined route sections without intervention. It maintains stable tracking and precise control through complex scenarios such as bends and bridge passages, demonstrating the maturity and reliability of the BOTIX Autonomous Navigation System.

Maritime autonomy will not scale overnight. Drawing on real-world navigational data accumulated through Auto Spring and multiple seagoing-vessel projects, BOTIX is following a clear pathway toward industrial deployment: from individual capability validation to deployment in representative scenarios, and ultimately to scaled product delivery.

Through this progression, BOTIX aims to help advance smart shipping toward a safer, more efficient, and more sustainable future.