West P&I Tells Ship Managers What MASS Declarations Actually Mean for Conventional Fleets

If you manage a conventional fleet and have noticed "degree of autonomy" starting to appear on declaration forms, West P&I has just published the clearest guidance the industry has seen on what to do about it — and for most operators, the answer is simpler than you might think. The West P&I Club published practical guidance this week clarifying that a conventionally operated vessel with a full crew complement and no remote control or autonomous navigation capability should declare "Not Applicable" for the MASS degree of autonomy field. Standard onboard automation — integrated bridge systems, engine room automation, monitoring systems, alarms, and decision-support tools — does not make a vessel a MASS. Why the confusion exists: The IMO introduced "degrees of autonomy" as part of its Regulatory Scoping Exercise for MASS, documented in MSC.1/Circ.1638. These definitions were designed to support the MASS Code development process — not to serve as a classification tool for every ship in service. But as the MASS Code approaches adoption at MSC 111 this week, declaration forms are beginning to include autonomy fields, and ship managers are understandably uncertain about how to respond. West P&I's guidance draws a clear line: there is a difference between a ship with modern automation and a ship that operates autonomously. The first has a crew that controls the vessel, assisted by technology. The second has systems that perform operational functions without direct onboard human input, or can be controlled remotely. When it gets more complicated: For vessels genuinely operating within an autonomous or semi-autonomous framework — typically trial programmes with dedicated system architectures, specific flag administration approvals, and classification society oversight — the position is more nuanced. West P&I advises that supporting documentation should demonstrate how the vessel is operated, how oversight is maintained, and how risks associated with reduced or remote human involvement are managed. The key reference is MSC.1/Circ.1604, which applies only to trial operations. Why this matters for ship managers: This is practical, actionable guidance that addresses a real source of confusion — and it comes from a P&I club, which means it connects directly to your insurance and liability framework. If your fleet is conventionally operated, you now have a clear reference point for how to handle MASS-related declaration fields. If you're involved in autonomous vessel trials, you know what documentation your P&I club expects to see. The timing is deliberate — this guidance arrives the same week the MASS Code is expected to be adopted, giving ship managers clarity before the regulatory landscape shifts. [West P&I]

This story is part of the Maritime AI Digest of 10 May 2026.