IMO Guidelines on Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS)

The IMO Guidelines on Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) provide a framework for safely designing, operating, and regulating autonomous ships—vessels capable of navigation and decision-making with minimal or no human crew. These guidelines aim to ensure safety, environmental protection, and security by addressing risk management, cybersecurity, and communication protocols. They promote a balanced approach, encouraging innovation while maintaining maritime safety standards, and establish responsibilities for shipowners, operators, and authorities. Overall, the guidelines aim to facilitate the responsible integration of autonomous ships into global shipping while safeguarding interests across the maritime industry.