Analysis of regulatory focus in Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS)

The rapid advancement of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) necessitates the development of coherent and robust regulatory frameworks. While classification societies have pioneered their own sets of rules, a universally accepted international standard is still absent. This paper provides a comparative analysis of the main MASS guidelines issued by leading classification societies and discusses them in relation to the ongoing work of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The comparison is based on three main aspects: definitions and classification of autonomy, risk assessment and equivalent safety approaches, and the governance of remote operation centres (ROC) and human involvement. The results show that although all societies follow a risk-based safety approach, there are clear differences in how autonomy is defined, how risk assessment is used in approval processes, and how remote operators are treated within the regulatory framework. In some cases, risk assessment is mainly used to justify alternative designs, while in others it is more closely connected to system qualification and verification. Approaches to ROC governance also vary, from general responsibility models to more detailed technical requirements. Overall, the study shows that while safety goals are similar, the structure and implementation of safety assurance are not yet fully aligned. The paper highlights several areas where further harmonization is needed, including autonomy classification, ROC governance, and the integration of risk assessment methods, in order to support the safe and practical deployment of MASS.

Keywords: Autonomous ships, safety assurance, classification societies, comparative analysis.