BIMCO advises IMO on autonomous shipping

The Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) recently provided input and assistance to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in regards to autonomous shipping.

Last month, the IMO took the first steps towards addressing autonomous ships, which included looking into how safe, secure and environmentally sound Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) operations may be addressed in IMO instruments. Part of these ongoing examinations included defining MASS as ships which (to varying degrees) can operate independently of human interaction.

BIMCO provided input in an effort to facilitate the harmonisation of data ahead of the April 2019 deadline when new mandatory requirements come into force for automated ship reporting. These requirements will require public authorities to have systems in place to assist ship clearance processes and were discussed at the 42nd session of the IMO’s Facilitation Committee (FAL) in London on June 5 to June 8.

The new standardised ship reporting measures will consist of two main parts. The first of which includes the automatic collection of data on board the ship, which must be submitted correctly to a single window application ashore – the Maritime Single Window. The second part includes the distribution of the ship’s data to the relevant shore parties.

BIMCO manager, Maritime Technology and Regulation, Jeppe Skovbakke Juhl, said “Electronic and automatic ship reporting plays an important role in facilitating efficient shipping. Automated and standardised ship reporting will greatly reduce the administrative burden of both the crew onboard and the authorities ashore.”

BIMCO, together with Liberia, the Marshall Islands and Turkey submitted a proposal with the aim of ensuring progress and preparation ahead of the April 2019 deadline.

“The proposal was very well received by the IMO during this process of preparation. Preparation and implementation of processes that work well for all parties involved will pave the way for automated ship reporting, and help avoid potential chaos of systems for electronic exchange of information created at the last minute,” said Jeppe.

For more information, visit: www.bimco.org

18th June 2018