Gathering data to pursue global rules for autonomous vessels

The international maritime community is establishing a framework to gather evidence on autonomous surface ships before setting permanent regulations

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is seeking voluntary contributions from Member States to fund an Experience-Building Phase (EBP) for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships to support the establishment and implementation of the data collection and management infrastructure.

A pivotal moment is unfolding in maritime regulation. The EBP marks the transition from initial guidelines to binding international rules. For shipbuilders and vessel operators, understanding this phase and its implications is essential to preparing for a future where autonomous technology becomes the norm.

The development of autonomous surface vessels represents one of the shipping industry's most significant technological shifts in decades. The IMO adopted a non-mandatory, goal-based Code for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships at its 111th session. This Code establishes safety and performance objectives rather than prescriptive requirements, allowing flexibility in how operators and builders achieve compliance.

The aim is to establish a mandatory code by 2030 which will set binding standards that all vessels must meet, regardless of flag state or operating region.

Data collection key for development

The EBP is not a testing ground for technology. Rather, it is a structured data collection exercise designed to inform the development of the mandatory Code. This draws on previous experiences with comparable initiatives, most notably the evidence-gathering activities associated with the Ballast Water Management Convention.

During this phase, real-world operational data will be gathered, managed and analysed. This information will address gaps in knowledge about how autonomous systems perform in practice, the regulatory challenges they present and how safety frameworks should be structured. The data collected will become the evidence base for the mandatory rules.

A critical aspect of this phase is the infrastructure needed to collect, manage and analyse data at a global scale. Acknowledging that its own staffing and budgetary resources are insufficient to undertake this work alone, the IMO is partnering with the World Maritime University (WMU) who will support data collection, analysis and reporting initiatives.

The additional funds now being sought by the IMO will support the establishment and implementation of the data collection and management infrastructure.

Timeframes

The EBP will commence once the IMO has agreed on the framework as well as the scope and when sufficient financial contributions have been secured. Proposals have already been received on how the phase should be structured, including input from multiple member states and industry organisations.

With the 2030 target for the mandatory Code, the timeline is compressed. The data collection phase will need to deliver insights quickly enough to inform rulemaking. This suggests that the experience-building activities will be intensive and focused, gathering evidence on key safety and operational issues as efficiently as possible.

Although regulatory certainty remains some years away, the framework for achieving it is now taking shape. For shipbuilders, this is the moment to design flexibility into autonomous systems, anticipating that specifications will evolve. For operators, participation in data reporting represents both an obligation and an opportunity to shape how future rules are written.

The non-mandatory Code published now provides a foundation, but it is not the final word. The EBP will test the Code against real-world operations and identify where refinement is needed. Companies that engage early with this process, whether through data provision or through contributions to the framework discussions, will be better positioned to influence the mandatory regime that takes effect in 2030 and beyond.

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