IMO Regulatory Agenda 2026: Maritime Safety, Seafarer Training and Facilitation

The overview below spotlights key areas of work pertaining to maritime safety, seafarer training and the streamlining of administrative procedures.

• autonomous shipping – expected completion of the non-mandatory IMO Code for the Safety of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships;
• life-saving appliances – continued revision of SOLAS Chapter III and the International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code;
• fire protection – further improvement of relevant IMO requirements with a focus on developing fire-protection measures for container ships and vessels carrying vehicles powered by new energy sources;
• smart navigation systems – adopting amendments to SOLAS on the use of VDES (VHF Data Exchange System);
• digitalization in the maritime sector – drafting a strategic document setting out tasks and areas of work on establishing a regulatory framework that meets the industry’s digitalization needs;
• underwater noise from commercial shipping – continued data collection and experience-building to establish a scientific and statistical basis for the possible future development of regulatory measures on underwater radiated noise;
• Comprehensive Review of the STCW Convention and Code – ongoing work to update provisions on the training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers;
• alternative fuels – advancing the development of safety recommendations for ships using various types of alternative fuels and technologies. Practical work will likewise begin on drafting amendments to SOLAS and other mandatory IMO instruments to account for specifics of alternative fuel use.

Building on these priorities, RS experts are actively engaged in IMO’s regulatory process as part of the Russian delegation and intend to participate directly in working on all the aforementioned tasks in 2026.

For the latest information visit the section “International Activity” – “Results of sessions of the IMO bodies” on the official RS website. Continuous updates will also be available on current progress across all projects.

Additional information:

Founded in 1913, Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) is a world-renowned classification society that operates within all spheres of the maritime industry with the goal of improving the operational and environmental safety of marine transportation. RS reviews technical documentation, surveys ships and offshore facilities under construction and in service, certifies vessels and companies for compliance with international conventions, recognizes and certifies industrial products and manufacturers, certifies quality management systems for compliance with international and national standards.

Today, RS is actively expanding its scope of services in the field of engineering and consulting, the development of technical documentation for vessels in service, marine warranty surveys, management system certification and recognition of manufacturers. In addition, RS surveys all container types, including tank containers and offshore containers, confirms compliance of packaging for dangerous goods, as well as renders services on the declaration and certification of dangerous goods and bulk cargoes.