IMO Spotlights the Future of Autonomous Shipping
As members of the national delegation, experts of Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) took part in the 110th session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 110), held from 18 to 27 June 2025 at the headquarters of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), in London.
The Committee made substantial progress on the draft Code of Safety for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS Code), having finalized fifteen of its twenty-six chapters. The draft Code is expected to be completed and adopted as a non-mandatory instrument at the next session of the Committee in May 2026.
Following the adoption, an experience-building phase will be initiated with a view to subsequent development of a mandatory MASS Code and a new SOLAS Convention chapter with specific requirements for autonomous ships. The target enforcement date for MASS requirements is not later than 1 January 2032.
In addition to autonomous navigation issues, the Committee adopted several amendments to the SOLAS Convention and related Codes, along with numerous non-mandatory documents on maritime safety.
Among the most important were new requirements and performance standards for pilot transfer arrangements.
Other outcomes of the Committee included a landmark decision to advance the development of cybersecurity requirements for ships, with work set to begin in 2026 under a non-mandatory IMO Code.
The Committee included a comprehensive list of new items in its work program for the coming years. Among these was the Russian Federation initiative to develop a consolidated list of IMO instruments’ provisions left to the satisfaction of the Administration, as well as their implementation guidelines for States.
This issue regularly arises during IMO Member State audits (IMSAS). RS specialists were actively involved in preparing the above proposal.
For more details on MSC 110 outcomes, visit the section “International Activity” – “Results of sessions of the IMO bodies” on the official RS website.
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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 implementing the concept "More than class" by expanding its scope of services in the field of engineering and consulting, the development of technical documentation for vessels in service, marine warranty surveys and certification. 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.