The International Maritime Organisation (IMO). The United Nations agency for the sea has adopted the first-ever international code of safety for the use of autonomous ships. The IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee is meeting in London at its 111th session, which concludes Friday, May 22.
It announced Thursday evening, May 21, the decision to adopt the code, which the IMO describes as “a new international framework which will regulate vessels operating with little or no human crew.”
The Code applies to large internationally-trading cargo ships and will take effect from 1 July 1. It will start on a voluntary basis for at least two years, giving Member States, including Ireland, the opportunity to test its use while paving the way for its mandatory implementation under the SOLAS Convention.
“The Code aims to support the safe integration of autonomous and remotely operated commercial ships into global shipping,” the IMO states. “It sets out a comprehensive, goal-based framework to ensure that autonomous vessels are built, operated and certified at equivalent safety and environmental standards to conventional ships.”
A Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship (MASS) is a ship capable of operating with varying levels of independence from human interaction. This ranges from automation with crew on board to remotely controlled vessels with or without crew to fully autonomous vessels that can make decisions independently.
