Australia's Defence Seaworthiness Program has issued its first Naval Permit to Operate to the SEASAT Lightfish autonomous surface vessel, allowing the system to participate in Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026.
The permit was issued to Elysium EPL's SEASAT Lightfish fleet following an assessment by the Australian Naval Seaworthiness Authority (ANSA), which worked with the Australian Naval Classification Authority, the Navy's AUKUS Pillar II Subsea/Seabed Warfare project team and Elysium EPL to review the vessel's safety controls.
The authorization enabled Lightfish operations during RIMPAC 2026 and represents the first application of the Naval Permit to Operate under the Australian Naval Seaworthiness Regulation (ANSR) 307.
The permit allows vessels to operate under specified conditions, limitations and risk controls. It provides a regulatory mechanism for temporary or limited operations, particularly when new defense vessels fall outside the jurisdiction of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
According to the Australian Department of Defense, the permit establishes a structured assessment process for project teams seeking to introduce new maritime capabilities into the Defence operating environment while maintaining safety oversight.
Elysium EPL Fleet Operations Manager Prue Davey said the approval enabled the company's Lightfish fleet to operate during the multinational naval exercise and demonstrated a way to introduce autonomous maritime systems into defense activities.
ANSA worked with Elysium EPL throughout the approval process to assess the evidence required to demonstrate that the autonomous vessel could be operated safely in support of navy activities.
The first permit provides a regulatory pathway for the Australian Defense organization to assess and authorize the operation of emerging vessel technologies under defined safety conditions.
