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IMO's MASS Code: What It Means for Autonomous Shipping

Breaking down the new Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships code and its implications for the industry.

IMO's MASS Code: What It Means for Autonomous Shipping

The International Maritime Organization's work on Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) has reached a significant milestone. But what does this regulatory framework actually mean for the industry?

The Four Degrees of Autonomy

IMO has defined four levels of autonomy for ships:

Degree One: Ships with automated processes and decision support. Seafarers are on board to operate and control shipboard systems.

Degree Two: Remotely controlled ship with seafarers on board. The ship is controlled from another location, but seafarers are on board to take control.

Degree Three: Remotely controlled ship without seafarers on board. The ship is controlled from another location.

Degree Four: Fully autonomous ship. The operating system makes decisions and determines actions by itself.

Practical Implications

Near-Term (1-3 years)

Expect to see Degree One implementations becoming more common, particularly:

  • Enhanced decision support systems
  • Automated monitoring and alerting
  • Semi-autonomous cargo handling

These technologies require minimal regulatory changes and can be implemented on existing vessels.

Medium-Term (3-7 years)

Degree Two operations will likely emerge for:

  • Short sea shipping routes
  • Port-to-port ferry services
  • Offshore support vessels

These will require significant shore-based infrastructure and new manning regulations.

Long-Term (7+ years)

Full autonomy (Degrees Three and Four) remains a distant prospect for commercial shipping. The challenges are not primarily technical but rather:

  • Liability frameworks
  • Insurance coverage
  • Port state acceptance
  • Cybersecurity standards

What Ship Operators Should Do Now

  1. Monitor developments - Stay informed about regulatory changes in your flag state and trading areas
  1. Evaluate readiness - Assess your fleet's digital infrastructure and data connectivity
  1. Plan for crew evolution - Consider how shore-based roles might develop as automation increases
  1. Engage with vendors carefully - Be skeptical of vendors promising full autonomy in the near term

The Realistic Timeline

Despite headlines about autonomous ships, the practical reality is evolutionary, not revolutionary. The industry will see gradual increases in automation that augment rather than replace human operators.

For most commercial vessels, the focus should be on maximizing value from Degree One technologies while preparing for the gradual shift toward more remote operation capabilities.