IMO has released the report of the second session of the Intersessional MASS Working Group

The International Maritime Organization has released the report of the second session of the Intersessional MASS Working Group.

The second meeting of the Intersessional Working Group on Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (the Group), chaired by Mr. Henrik Tunfors (Sweden), was held at IMO Headquarters in London from 30 October to 3 November 2023.

Terms of reference

The Group was instructed, taking into account the progress made by the intersessional Correspondence Group and comments and decisions made at MSC 107, to:

• .1 continue the development of the non-mandatory goal-based MASS instrument (MASS Code), taking into account the latest draft of the Code prepared by the Correspondence Group, based on annex 1 to document MSC 107/WP.9;
• .2 further consider the common potential gaps and/or themes identified during the Regulatory Scoping Exercise (MSC.1/Circ.1638, section 5), focusing on the high-priority items (MSC.1/Circ.1638, paragraphs 6.11.1 to 6.11.3);
• .3 if necessary, develop positions on any common issues for submission to a Joint MSC/LEG/FAL Working Group in the future;
• .4 limit the development of the non-mandatory MASS Code to cargo ships with a view to considering the feasibility for application to passenger ships at a future stage;
• .5 time permitted, consider document MSC 107/5/5 and provide recommendations to the Committee on the way forward; and
• .6 submit a written report to MSC 108.

MASS Code overarching issues

The Group considered first overarching or matters of principles to provide some clarity on how to proceed with the drafting of the MASS Code, as set out in the ensuing paragraphs.

Document MSC 108/4/1 was released on 8 November 2023.

For more information, please see the document below (available only to subscribers):

Report of the Intersessional MASS Working Group