Autonomous port pilots advanced with updates to VTS/AIS integrations, safety cases, and runtime monitoring. The test program evaluates perception in maritime conditions, including low‑visibility and cluttered traffic, and validates decision‑making against conservative operating envelopes agreed with authorities. Safety cases document hazards, mitigations, and evidence so that stakeholders can review and challenge assumptions. The program is intentionally collaborative: pilots are co‑designed with port operators, regulators, and vendors to ensure compatibility with existing procedures. Telemetry is analyzed for near‑miss patterns and controller sensitivity, and digital twins help refine behaviors before field trials. The goal is not to replace humans but to augment operations with predictable, explainable autonomy that lowers risk and improves throughput. Future work will broaden scenarios, expand interfaces to traffic systems, and publish lessons learned about integrating autonomy into critical infrastructure in a way that is safe, transparent, and maintainable.