Invitation to a professional event in London
Autonomous ships are becoming a reality, but a unified international regulatory framework is still lacking. Norway and the Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) aim to spotlight this important issue during a dedicated professional event in London.
IMO: In collaboration with leading industry stakeholders – including suppliers, shipowners, researchers and operators – the NMA invites you to a MASS symposium on autonomous ships on 17 June.
If you are in London on this date, particularly if you are attending MSC 110, you are welcome to register and attend the symposium in person. A virtual attendance option will also be available.
"When working on regulatory development in international forums such as the IMO, we see a significant variation in experience among delegations. Some member States are advanced in research, while others already have autonomous vessels in operation. Norway is among the countries with the most operational autonomous vessels, and we are eager to share our insights," says Lisbeth Toft, Senior Legal Adviser in the Department of Operational Supervision at the NMA.
The symposium contributes to the ongoing development of a new, goal-based and non-mandatory regulatory framework, known as the MASS Code, for autonomous ships in international trade.
"The objective is for the MASS Code to serve as a framework for regulating autonomous vessels operating on international voyages," explains Sifis Papageorgiou, Chief Engineer in the Department for Vessels and Seafarers at the NMA.
Norwegian participants will present current projects and technological innovations in the field of autonomous shipping.
"This may support meaningful dialogue within the IMO as work on the MASS Code progresses during MSC 110," Papageorgiou adds.