ABS has published a whitepaper proposing a goal-based framework for future rules to enable autonomous vessel operations.

The ABS Autonomous Vessels Whitepaper is designed to support the industry’s increasing adoption of autonomous capabilities with a focus on safe implementation. It sets out 10 goals to create a framework for the design and operation of autonomous vessels and addresses key issues in implementation.

The whitepaper also includes an update on the outcome of the IMO’s Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) Regulatory Scoping Exercise, an important step on the road toward the development of requirements governing autonomous operations.

“To allow operations of fully autonomous vessels, the maritime industry requires regulations for their design. While this is an ongoing endeavor at the IMO, ABS is well placed to propose our own framework to support both safe innovation and adoption of autonomous technologies,” said Patrick Ryan, ABS Senior Vice President, Global Engineering and Technology. “We are able to do this thanks to our industry-leading work with key players on cutting edge remote-control and autonomy projects all over the world. This extensive experience underpins the approach and the framework outlined in this whitepaper.”

Industry-leading autonomy and remote-control initiatives ABS has worked on include a remotely operated harbor tug developed by Keppel Offshore & Marine and ABB that became the first in the world to receive the ABS REMOTE-COM (NAV) notation designating the vessel satisfied the ABS requirements associated with remote-control navigation. ABS has also awarded Approval in Principle (AIP) to technology in an autonomous tug project from ST Engineering, POSH and M1 Limited. Earlier this year ABS and Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) signed a strategic framework agreement to work together on a series of autonomous projects. ABS is also working on a project with Svitzer A/S to jointly develop the RECOTUG™ – a commercial tug designed to be fully operated from a remote operations center on shore.

A copy of the ABS Autonomous Vessels Whitepaper is available for download here. The ABS Guide for Autonomous and Remote Control Functions, is available for download here. More information on ABS Autonomy services is available here.