Considerations on the regulatory issues for realization of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships

Abstract

The Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) agreed to include a new agenda item "Regulatory Scoping Exercise (RSE) for the use of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS)" in order to determine how the safe, secure and environmentally sound operation of MASS may be introduced in the regulations. The first step of the RSE is a review of the IMO instruments to identify the provisions which prevent MASS operations or which may need amendments or clarifications. The authors, as representatives of Japan, undertook the initial review of Chapters II-2, VI and VII of the annex to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and associated codes. As a result, it was revealed that there were a lot of provisions which required manual operations and actions by personnel. To realize MASS without persons on board, appropriate alternative safety measures are needed, taking into account the intentions of the existing regulations. Also, another concept for fire safety and emergency procedures for carriage of cargoes could be introduced, taking into account the reduction of risks owing to absence of persons on board when the cargo does not include any harmful substances for marine environment.