David Appleton: Union gets results for seafarer safety at IMO committee

Nautilus recently attended the 110th session of the International Maritime Organization's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), held in London this June. It was a packed agenda – but a productive one – with developments that will be of importance to our members.

Once again, our main focus was the ongoing work on the non-mandatory code for maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS). Nautilus has taken a key role in discussions throughout, insisting that seafarer safety and the integrity of the regulatory regime for existing ships remain central as autonomy develops.

Following a marathon session of the MASS working group, the end is now in sight. The majority of the code is finalised, with adoption now expected in May 2026.

A firm decision was made that whenever there are persons onboard a MASS, the master must also be onboard – a point that Nautilus has argued strongly for throughout.

Discussions on proposals to allow a master to be in charge of multiple MASS were deferred until after adoption of the code in May 2026 and a subsequent experience-building phase.

Attention now shifts to the next MSC meeting this autumn, where the MASS code's 'human element' chapter will be finalised. Nautilus will of course be participating fully in this final phase to ensure that the interests of seafarers are properly considered in the finished code.

Another critical development was the revised timeline for updating the STCW Convention. The initial proposal to complete the work by 2031/32 caused understandable concern.

Following direct intervention from IMO secretary-general Arsenio Dominguez and the allocation of additional resources, the schedule has been brought forward to 2029/30 – a welcome step for ensuring that maritime training keeps pace with modern demands.

Equally encouraging was the Committee's agreement to prioritise work on fatigue and crewing levels. With hours of rest already flagged in the STCW review, we are hopeful that some long-overdue progress on fatigue may finally be achieved.

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