The IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee met for its 110th session from 18-27 June 2025. It was the last meeting chaired by Maite Medina from the USA. Lars Lange, IUMI Secretary General, was in attendance. On the first day he was accompanied by Marc Sommerfeld from GDV and Sebastian Kempka from Köln Assekuranz who is also a member of IUMI’s Loss Prevention Committee. This summary includes topics of particular interest to marine insurers.
Fire risks associated with low pressure fuel pipes
A long-term cooperation between IACS and IUMI has led to a joint proposal put forward to the IMO to address fire risks associated with low pressure fuel pipes. Leakages on hot surfaces have led to a number of fire incidents. These have been well documented by Cefor, the Nordic Marine Insurance Association. Under the leadership of Svenn Andersen and Steinar Sivertsen from Norwegian Hull Club, data has been gathered on fires caused by low pressure fuel pipes. Such detailed evidence has helped IACS proceed with the development of recommendations to the Maritime Safety Committee on how to address this safety concern at a regulatory level. IUMI and IACS successfully gathered support from all EU Member States who co-sponsored the proposal. The Committee approved the new agenda item and agreed to merge it with another suggestion under the title “Mitigation of fire risks caused by leakages from low-pressure fuel pipes and lubrication oil pipes, and use of thermal imaging cameras when inspecting insulations, in engine rooms”. The Sub-Committee on Ship Systems and Equipment (SSE) has been assigned to work on the matter and to complete it within two sessions.
This is the second topic which has been successfully brought to the IMO’s agenda by IUMI in strong collaboration with IACS, and thanks to the longstanding support from Cefor members.
Revision of the Casualty Investigation Code
IUMI also co-sponsored as proposal to revise the Casualty Investigation Code. When very serious marine casualties occur, SOLAS requires the flag administrations involved to conduct a safety investigation. Relevant information arising from the investigations should be made available to the IMO in a timely manner so that lessons can be learnt. Although the time between an accident occurring and the report being published is improving, as is the actual number of accidents being investigated and reported, a number of accidents still go unreported. Due to the critical nature of improving the safety and of protecting the environment, the importance of publishing lessons learnt cannot be overstated. IUMI therefore supported the proposal on improving the accident reporting process and timelines along with several IMO Member States and NGOs. The proposal was supported by the Maritime Safety Committee with a target completion year of 2028. The work will be conducted by the Sub-Committee on Implementation of IMO Instruments (III).
Code for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS)
Considerable progress in the drafting of the non-mandatory Code for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) was achieved. 24 out of 25 sections are now finalized and the Road Map on development of the MASS Code has been updated. These are the contents anticipated to form the MASS Code:
- PURPOSE, PRINCIPLES AND OBJECTIVES
- APPLICATION
- CODE STRUCTURE
- TERMINOLOGY AND DEFINITIONS
- SURVEYS AND CERTIFICATES
- APPROVAL PROCESS
- RISK ASSESSMENT
- OPERATIONAL CONTEXT
- SYSTEM DESIGN
- SOFTWARE PRINCIPLES
- MANAGEMENT OF SAFE OPERATIONS
- RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS
- ALERT MANAGEMENT
- HUMAN ELEMENT
- MAINTENANCE
- SAFETY OF NAVIGATION
- REMOTE OPERATIONS
- STRUCTURE, SUBDIVISION, STABILITY AND WATERTIGHT INTEGRITY
- FIRE PROTECTION, FIRE DETECTION AND FIRE EXTINCTION
- LIFE-SAVING APPLICANCES AND ARRANGEMENTS
- SPECIAL MEASURES TO ENHANCE MARITIME SECURITY
- SEARCH AND RESCUE
- CARRIAGE OF CARGOES
- ANCHORING, TOWING AND MOORING
- MACHINERY AND ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS
This is the timeline which MSC 109 (December 2024) agreed for the development of a MASS Code:
- May 2026 – finalize and adopt non-mandatory MASS Code;
- December 2026 – develop a framework for an experience-building phase (EBP) post adoption of the non-mandatory MASS Code;
- 2028 – commence development of the mandatory MASS Code, based on the non-mandatory Code and result from the EBP and review conducted by the relevant sub-committees, and consider amendments to SOLAS (new chapter) for the Code’s adoption;
- By 1 July 2030 at the latest – adoption of the mandatory Code, for entry into force on 1 Jan 2032.
GHG fuel safety regime
The Committee continued its work to develop safety regulations for ships using new technologies and alternative fuels to support the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including initiating work to review the IMO Code of Safety for Nuclear Merchant Ships (Nuclear Code). The Nuclear Code was considered outdated because it is specific to earlier designs of Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs) and a direct steam cycle propulsion system. The progress in the design of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), the advent of new nuclear technologies and the development of the All-Electric-Ship concept have created the potential for the application of different nuclear technologies to seagoing vessels. These integrated designs are smaller, incorporate inherent passive safety features, and could operate at power for longer periods without refuelling. However, most of those new nuclear technologies are not covered by the existing Code. It also needs to be updated to reflect the current IAEA safety, security, and safeguards standards.
MSC 110 instructed the CCC, SSE, and SDC sub-committees to develop holistic work plans to assess the gaps and barriers, and to identify the instruments that may need to be amended.
Cyber-security
A working group on Maritime Security was established and tasked to develop next steps to enhance maritime cybersecurity. The group concluded that any cybersecurity requirements should be goal-based and include risk management, as opposed to being prescriptive in nature. The Committee endorsed the WG’s recommendation to develop a non-mandatory Cybersecurity Code and invited interested Member States and observer organisations to submit proposals on a new output to MSC 111.
