The International Maritime Organization has adopted the world’s first global safety code for autonomous commercial ships, marking a historic shift in global shipping regulation while warning of escalating risks in the Strait of Hormuz and advancing new rules for alternative fuels and maritime tracking systems.
The 111th session of the Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organization concluded in London after adopting the first-ever International Code of Safety for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships, widely known as the MASS Code. The landmark framework establishes the first comprehensive global standards for AI-enabled and remotely operated commercial vessels, positioning autonomous shipping at the center of the maritime industry’s future.
The meeting, chaired by Theofilos Mozas, took place from 13 to 22 May 2026 and brought together international delegates to address emerging technologies, maritime security threats and environmental transition challenges. The newly adopted MASS Code will apply to cargo ships from 1 July 2026 as a non-mandatory instrument, allowing governments and industry stakeholders to test and refine its implementation before binding regulations are introduced later in the decade.
Under the new framework, autonomous and remotely controlled ships will be required to meet the same safety, security and environmental protection standards expected of conventional vessels under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and other mandatory IMO instruments. The code introduces extensive requirements covering navigation systems, cybersecurity protections, remote operations, fire safety and search-and-rescue coordination. It also formalizes the role of Remote Operations Centres and demands robust risk assessments before autonomous ships can enter service.
Despite the rapid rise of automation technologies, the IMO emphasized that human oversight remains central to maritime operations. The code specifically states that a ship’s master retains ultimate responsibility for the vessel at all times, even when not physically on board. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez described the agreement as a “landmark achievement” that demonstrates the organization’s ability to regulate emerging technologies without compromising safety or accountability.
The MASS Code is the result of nearly a decade of international negotiations, legal reviews and real-world trials involving autonomous vessel technologies. The IMO confirmed that work will continue toward making the code mandatory under the SOLAS Convention. A new working group is expected to reconvene in December 2026 to develop an experience-building phase, while a binding version of the MASS Code is targeted for adoption by July 2030 and entry into force by January 2032.
Beyond autonomous shipping, the Maritime Safety Committee also confronted intensifying geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. Delegates adopted a resolution urging member states to support efforts to safely evacuate ships and seafarers trapped in the Persian Gulf amid prolonged regional instability. The committee called for urgent humanitarian support measures, including supplies, remote assistance services and communication channels for affected crews and their families.
In opening remarks to delegates, Dominguez warned that prolonged restrictions on vessel movement in the Gulf were placing civilian seafarers under severe psychological pressure and creating growing risks for global trade and energy supply chains. He stressed that freedom of navigation and the protection of merchant vessels must not become casualties of geopolitical conflict.
The committee also advanced new safety regulations for alternative marine fuels as the shipping industry accelerates its energy transition. Delegates approved interim guidelines for ships using ammonia cargo as fuel, alongside new seafarer training standards for vessels powered by ammonia and methyl or ethyl alcohol. The measures are designed to address the operational risks associated with low-emission fuel technologies while preparing crews for increasingly complex ship systems.
In another major development, the IMO approved amendments to the Long-Range Identification and Tracking system that would make global ship tracking data more accessible to coastal states at no cost. The changes are intended to improve maritime security, strengthen search-and-rescue capabilities and help authorities combat illegal shipping and marine pollution. Final adoption of the amendments is expected during the committee’s next session in December.
The Maritime Safety Committee also approved the introduction of the VHF Data Exchange System, or VDES, as a more advanced alternative to the current Automatic Identification System used for ship tracking. The upgraded technology is expected to enter into force in 2028 and is designed to provide faster, more secure data exchanges between ships and coastal authorities while reducing risks associated with spoofing and false vessel identification.
The latest IMO session underscored the shipping industry’s accelerating transformation as automation, digitalization and energy transition reshape one of the world’s most critical sectors. With autonomous vessels moving closer to commercial reality and geopolitical instability threatening vital trade corridors, maritime regulators are increasingly being forced to balance innovation, security and global economic stability at the same time.
