Maritime Safety Committee continues to develop safety regulatory framework

The Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) met for its 109th session in London from 2 to 6 December 2024.

The Committee adopted amendments to the IGC Code to enable the use of ammonia cargo as fuel and to provide interim guidelines on the use of ammonia as fuel. The Committee also agreed on amendments to the IGF Code to improve the safety of ships fuelled with natural gas.

The Committee continued to develop the safety regulatory framework to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships using new technologies and alternative fuels. The Committee added swappable traction lithium-ion battery containers to the list of alternative fuels and new technologies. The list already includes ammonia, hydrogen, fuel cell systems, and solar and wind power. The Committee will continue addressing safety and regulatory challenges affecting the listed fuels and technologies at its next session in June 2025. The Committee aims to create a regulatory framework for the alternative fuels and new technologies on the list.

The Committee established a working group to continue finalising the regulation on advanced automation, the Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) Code, which will promote the safety and introduction of autonomous ships. Drawn up on the basis of various ship functions, the MASS Code will supplement the SOLAS and other conventions on the safety of life at sea.

As a rule, autonomous ships must meet the requirements set out in the conventions, and the MASS Code will only apply to the functions which cannot be implemented under the conventions due to the use of autonomous solutions. The non-mandatory MASS Code should be finalised by 2026, whereas the mandatory Code will not be adopted before 1 January 2032 at the earliest.

Finally, the Committee adopted draft amendments to the SOLAS Convention to improve the safety of pilot transfer arrangements. As the arrangements also apply to transferring other persons from or to ships at sea, the impacts of the amendments on safety will extend beyond pilots.

Inquiries:

Katja Viertävä, Senior Ministerial Adviser, [email protected], tel. +358 295 342 612