Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Part 1 – Developments in non-MASS autonomous ship operations
MASS developments are going relatively slow in national projects as well as in IMO. IMO expects to complete the voluntary guide in December 2026 and then go into a testing phase until the mandatory code is adopted in 2030. However, other non-MASS areas are rapidly being developed. This include large USVs and passenger/car ferries. This part will take a look at these two segments and see what impact those can have on MASS.
09:00 Welcome
09:10 Session 1 – Uncrewed and remote-controlled USVs
Moderator: Najmeh Masoudi-Dionne, Autonomous mobility specialist, Future Mobility Europe
The first discussions will provide an overview of important developments in large non-MASS and passenger vessels.These are vessels that are not covered by IMO regulations directly but where developments use similar or same technology and where safety challenges are comparable. These developments in non-MASS vessels may very well be the most important indicators of where also MASS developments need to go. Questions to be asked are:
Where are developments in large non-MASS ships going?
What are the main business cases?
What are hinderances for approval and operations?
What are the learning points for MASS developments?
Speakers:
Bjørg Mathisen Døving, Vice President, Reach Remote
Ottar Kringen Mæland, COO DeepOcean
Vegard Evjen Hovstein, CEO Maritime Robotics
Pieter-Jan Note, Mahi, UltraTug remote operated Tug
Magne Nilsen, Chief Underwriting Officer, Speciality. Gard AS
10:30 Break and refreshments
11:00 Session 2 – Developments in autonomous passenger and car ferries
Moderator: An-Magritt Ryste, DNV Maritime Digital Product Portfolio Manager
Autonomous car and passenger ferries in national operation is also an area with relatively fast growth and rapidly increasing interest. Also, these are largely exempt from MASS regulations but may have significant impact on further developments, even if IMO’s work on MASS code explicitly excludes passenger carrying ships. Questions to be asked are:
What are the main business cases?
How autonomous are these vessels – how to ensure passenger safety?
What are plans for further developments?
What about public acceptance
Speakers:
Erik Froste, CEO, Swedish Road Ferries
Jelmer de Lange, Dutch Rijkswaterstaat
Dag Hole, Norwegian Road Authorities
Erlend Solem, Boreal
Siv Remøy-Vangen, Managing Director Norwegian Electric Systems
Part 1 – Developments in non-MASS autonomous ship operations
MASS developments are going relatively slow in national projects as well as in IMO. IMO expects to complete the voluntary guide in December 2026 and then go into a testing phase until the mandatory code is adopted in 2030. However, other non-MASS areas are rapidly being developed. This include large USVs and passenger/car ferries. This part will take a look at these two segments and see what impact those can have on MASS.
09:00 Welcome
09:10 Session 1 – Uncrewed and remote-controlled USVs
Moderator: Najmeh Masoudi-Dionne, Autonomous mobility specialist, Future Mobility Europe
The first discussions will provide an overview of important developments in large non-MASS and passenger vessels.These are vessels that are not covered by IMO regulations directly but where developments use similar or same technology and where safety challenges are comparable. These developments in non-MASS vessels may very well be the most important indicators of where also MASS developments need to go. Questions to be asked are:
Where are developments in large non-MASS ships going?
What are the main business cases?
What are hinderances for approval and operations?
What are the learning points for MASS developments?
Speakers:
Bjørg Mathisen Døving, Vice President, Reach Remote
Ottar Kringen Mæland, COO DeepOcean
Vegard Evjen Hovstein, CEO Maritime Robotics
Pieter-Jan Note, Mahi, UltraTug remote operated Tug
Magne Nilsen, Chief Underwriting Officer, Speciality. Gard AS
10:30 Break and refreshments
11:00 Session 2 – Developments in autonomous passenger and car ferries
Moderator: An-Magritt Ryste, DNV Maritime Digital Product Portfolio Manager
Autonomous car and passenger ferries in national operation is also an area with relatively fast growth and rapidly increasing interest. Also, these are largely exempt from MASS regulations but may have significant impact on further developments, even if IMO’s work on MASS code explicitly excludes passenger carrying ships. Questions to be asked are:
What are the main business cases?
How autonomous are these vessels – how to ensure passenger safety?
What are plans for further developments?
What about public acceptance
Speakers:
Erik Froste, CEO, Swedish Road Ferries
Jelmer de Lange, Dutch Rijkswaterstaat
Dag Hole, Norwegian Road Authorities
Erlend Solem, Boreal
Siv Remøy-Vangen, Managing Director Norwegian Electric Systems
