Autonomous‑Vessel Regulation Enters the Home Stretch

The IMO's Maritime Safety Committee meets this month with one headline item: adoption of the first non‑mandatory Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship (MASS) Code. The draft sets out responsibilities for a remote "Master‑in‑Charge," emergency override links and minimum sensor redundancy for all Size > 500 GT vessels. Flag states are lobbying to make the experience‑building phase opt‑in from 2026, opening the door for commercial voyages as early as 2027. Shipyards report a spike in RFI requests for 'MASS‑ready' newbuilds, indicating owners want to lock in futureproof hulls now.
[Safety4Sea]

This story is part of the Maritime AI Digest of 3 May 2025.