From June 18 to 27, 2025, the 110th session of the IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 110) was held at the International Maritime Organization headquarters in London. Experts and representatives from over 170 countries and more than 60 international organizations participated in the meeting.
Marautec was invited to attend the MASS Rulemaking Working Group sessions. During the “MASS NOW AND NEXT STEPS” session, organized by the One Sea , Zhang Binghua, Chairman of Marautec, delivered a keynote speech highlighting key issues requiring attention in the refinement and advancement of MASS rules. He also shared Marautec's practical experience in applying AI-based visual perception technology on autonomous vessels, receiving strong interest and positive feedback from attendees.
Chairman Zhang further introduced two technical standard proposals at the ISO/TC8/SC26 Intelligent Shipping Subcommittee meeting (May 5–7, 2025). Both proposals—“Defining the Minimum Safe Lookout Range for MASS Vessels” and “Determining Minimum Safe Parameters for MASS Berthing and Departure”—have been successfully accepted as Preliminary Working Items (PWI) by ISO. He emphasized the importance of establishing minimum safe lookout ranges for determining key indicators of autonomous navigation systems, performing risk assessment, and verifying system performance, while calling for active international participation in the standardization process.
Li Yanqing, Chair of ISO/TC8 and SC26, noted that these standards will provide a quantitative basis for autonomous ship technology development and verification, helping to clarify the scope of the safety equivalence principle under MASS rules. Applicable to all operational modes of MASS vessels as well as conventional ships with assisted navigation, these standards will serve as one of the foundational and most important benchmarks during the 2026–2028 experience accumulation period following the IMO’s non-mandatory MASS rules’ implementation.
Captain Marko Rakihainen, Director of Regulatory Affairs at One Sea and IMO MASS Working Group representative, commented that defining the minimum safe lookout range is critical for validating autonomous navigation systems, representing a significant step forward for MASS technology and vessel development. One Sea remains committed to supporting the development and international standardization of these technologies.
During the session, Using real-world examples, Mr Zhang showcased the Marautec i-EYE, which has been deployed in multiple domestic shipping fleets across a variety of vessel types, including container ships, LPG/LNG carriers, bulk carriers, multipurpose vessels, RORO ships, cruise ships, inland vessels, tugs, and dredgers. Covering scenarios from open sea navigation to berthing and from inland waterways to offshore operations, the system provides crew with a practical, user-friendly, and reliable navigation aid, helping shipping companies enhance fleet management and reduce operational costs.
Looking ahead, Marautec will continue to focus on MASS vessel R&D and applications, actively participating in international and domestic rulemaking and standard-setting, and promoting the development and adoption of MASS technology and autonomous shipping worldwide.
