Spain takes part in the European debate on autonomous ships

The meeting aims to reach consensus ahead of the future approval of the Autonomous Ships Code (MASS Code) by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), scheduled for May.

The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, through the Directorate General of the Merchant Marine (DGMM) and in collaboration with the Las Palmas Port Authority, is today concluding a meeting of the European Commission’s expert group on autonomous ships. The meeting is intended to discuss progress in the regulation of autonomous vessels, with a view to the approval of the Autonomous Ships Code by the International Maritime Organization (the MASS Code) next May, following eight years of negotiations in which Spain has played a consistent role.

During the meeting, which began yesterday, Wednesday the 4th, participants are also analysing the most relevant aspects of the so-called “experience-building phase,” which will begin once the MASS Code is approved. The aim is to ensure that these types of vessels, whether remotely operated or fully unmanned, are as safe as conventional ships and comply with international legislation.

Other topics addressed include the risk assessment of autonomous ships prior to their entry into operation, using specific tools made available to Member States by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA); the use and control of artificial intelligence on board autonomous vessels; European guidelines for testing these types of ships; and upcoming meetings of the various forums dealing with this subject.

The meeting brings together representatives from Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Spain, EMSA, and the European Commission.

In addition, several Spanish entities involved in the development of autonomous ships have presented their projects, with particular emphasis on organisations and companies based in the Canary Islands.

The meeting, led by Hernán del Frade, Safety and Environment Adviser at the DGMM, highlights the effective collaboration between the Las Palmas Port Authority and the Directorate General of the Merchant Marine in organising high-level events of major importance at the European level related to maritime safety. As further evidence of this cooperation, in 2019 Las Palmas also hosted the European Places of Refuge exercise, which brought together experts from all Member States as well as from third countries.