Autonomous Surface Vessel (MASS)

A Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship (MASS) is an IMO-defined ship that to a varying degree can operate independent of human interaction. The IMO regulatory scoping exercise (completed 2021) set four degrees of autonomy: degree one, automated processes and decision support with seafarers aboard; degree two, remotely controlled with seafarers aboard; degree three, remotely controlled with no seafarers aboard; degree four, fully autonomous, the system makes its own decisions and actions. A ship may run at one or more degrees over a voyage. A non-mandatory MASS Code is targeted for adoption later in the decade. The framework cuts across SOLAS, COLREGs, and STCW, where master, crew, and lookout assume a person aboard.