22th Week Topic: Analysis of the Impact of the Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships Code (MASS Code) on the Shipping Industry

On May 21, 2026, at the London Maritime Safety Committee meeting, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) officially adopted the "Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships Safety Code" (MASS Code - the International Code of Safety for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships). This code is expected to come into mandatory effect starting from 2028. After years of development, this code has established a unified framework for the design, construction, and operation of unmanned ships, requiring its safety standards to be consistent with those of traditional manned ships, thereby clearing the core regulatory obstacles for the large-scale commercial use of unmanned ships worldwide.

In the future development stage of intelligent shipping, it is analyzed and sorted based on the degree of automation and the commercialization process. The pilot verification period (2026 - 2028) sees the implementation and trial operation of the MASS rules, with remote control and reduced crew operation trials conducted on coastal and inland short-haul routes; ship-shore collaboration, intelligent perception, and collision avoidance systems gradually mature, and operational data and regulatory experience are accumulated. The scale promotion period (2028 - 2032) sees the full mandatory implementation of the MASS rules, with batch application of semi-automated ships in near-sea and feeder transportation; intelligent ports, intelligent waterways, and unmanned ships deeply collaborate, and business models and cost advantages emerge. The deep integration period (2032 - 2035+) sees the emergence of high-level unmanned ships on ocean routes, with AI unmanned decision-making and remote cluster control becoming the mainstream; a full-chain intelligent shipping system is formed, and unmanned ships and traditional ships operate together and collaborate on a regular basis.

What are the main impacts of unmanned ships on the shipping market? In terms of cost and efficiency, unmanned ships significantly reduce labor costs such as crew, shift scheduling, food and accommodation, optimize routes and speeds, and reduce fuel consumption by 5% to 10%. They break through the restrictions on crew rest time, enabling 24-hour continuous operation, significantly improving port turnover and navigation efficiency. In terms of safety and risks, unmanned ships reduce accidents caused by human errors such as collisions and grounding, and overall improve maritime safety levels. New types of risks such as cybersecurity, system redundancy, and remote emergency response have emerged, raising regulatory and technical thresholds. In terms of market structure and industry chain, unmanned ships will first be gradually implemented by leading shipping companies. Technology enterprises and classification societies will lead the standards and technologies, leading to an increase in industry concentration and putting smaller shipowners under pressure to transform. This will give rise to new sectors such as intelligent navigation systems, ship-shore communication, and AI operation and maintenance. The integration of shipbuilding, shipping, ports, and technology will be deepened. In terms of employment and compliance in the shipping industry, there will be fewer positions on ships, while the demand for onshore control, data operation, and cybersecurity positions will increase, and the skill structure of crew members will be restructured. Global unified regulation will be implemented, making ship certifications, insurance, and liability definitions clearer, and reducing compliance costs for cross-border operations. In terms of green and low-carbon aspects, the navigation of unmanned ships and the synergy of new energy sources (electricity, ammonia, hydrogen) will optimize routes and energy consumption, helping to achieve the carbon reduction goals of the shipping industry.

With the continuous advancement of communication and artificial intelligence, the market has witnessed the vigorous development of intelligent car driving. Therefore, the mature of unmanned ships should not be far behind.