code_of_practice_V3_2019

Foreword
1 BACKGROUND
1.1 The development of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) has continued at a very significant pace over
the last few years with more MASS entering operation all the time. They come in a variety of sizes and have a
very diverse set of operational capabilities which all place their own unique demands on those who own and
operate them and the remainder of the Maritime Community. MASS are an element of the development of
Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (RAI) systems across the various transport sectors.
1.2 The term MASS has been adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) of the International Maritime
Organization (IMO) for their scoping exercise which was accepted at MSC 98 on the 13th June 2017. The MSC
Working and Correspondence Groups started their work in May 2018 and there was an intersessional working
group meeting in September 2019. Other scoping exercises are being undertaken by the Legal (LEG) and the
Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL) committees. Information concerning their work is available
through IMODOCS.
1.3 Version 3 of this Code of Practice (“Code”) has been prepared by the UK Maritime Autonomous Systems Regulatory
Working Group (MASRWG) and has been published by Maritime UK through the Society of Maritime Industries. It
has been prepared in two parts. Part 1 is a set of Industry Conduct Principles, which supercedes the previous Code
of Conduct published in 2016, and Part 2 is the Code of Practice.
1.4 This Code seeks to provide practical guidance for the design, construction and safe operation of autonomous
and semi-autonomous MASS less than 24m while the more detailed regulatory framework for MASS is developed
under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.
1.5 The Code focusses on surface ships, seagoing vessels and watercraft (per SOLAS Chapter V – Safety of
Navigation) but does include some references to other Maritime Autonomous Systems (MAS), such as
Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV), Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) and Unmanned Air Systems (UAS).
It is stressed that these systems have their own operating guidelines which are not replicated in this Code but
may be deployed from MASS. The Code will be updated as required when guidance from the IMO Regulatory
Scoping Exercise is published, and as the MCA develops policies to meet the needs of forthcoming technological,
commercial and regulatory developments.
1.6 The primary aim in developing the Code has been to establish standards and best practice for those who design,
build, manufacture (including testing and commissioning), own, operate and control MASS of less than 24 metres
in length. It will establish some principles and guidance which will also be applicable for those operating larger
MASS.
1.7 The Code deals with the important subject of Remote Control Centres and their manning.
1.8 The intent is to ensure equivalence with the provisions of IMO’s current legal instruments (COLREGS, SOLAS,
MARPOL, and STCW) and to provide links to related documentation (e.g. ISPS, IMDG, ISM, Fire Safety Code
and the Load Line Convention).
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MASS UK Industry Conduct Principles and Code of Practice Version 3