Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships

IACS aims to contribute to the development of MASS by actively participating in relevant forums, leveraging its maritime technical expertise, and fostering strong partnerships with regulators and industry stakeholders.

Latest News

2026-03-27

IACS Publishes Recommendation 197 on hull structural steels up to 100mm thickness

The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) has published a new recommendation, Rec.197 that complements the existing requirements of IACS Unified Requirement W11, currently addressing hull structural steels up to 100 mm thickness.

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2026-02-11

IACS PARTICIPATION AT SSE 12

In demonstrating its ongoing commitment to supporting the work of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and within its remit as the Organization’s principal technical advisor, IACS will actively participate in the forthcoming 12th session of the Sub-Committee on Ship Systems and Equipment (SSE 12) which will meet from 9 to 13 March 2026.

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Safer And Cleaner Shipping

Dedicated to safe ships and clean seas, IACS makes a unique contribution to maritime safety and regulation through technical support, compliance verification and research and development. More than 90% of the world’s cargo carrying tonnage is covered by the classification design, construction and through-life compliance Rules and standards set by the twelve Member Societies of IACS.

Position Papers

IACS “Position Papers” are issued and reviewed regularly by IACS on key topics for the Industry. These position papers provide background to the subject matter, IACS position on the subject and summary of actions that IACS has taken.

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Annual Review

IACS, the membership organisation for the world’s leading classification societies, has published its 2024 Annual Review, which highlights the central role played by IACS in supporting safety standards in global shipping.

In a year that marked the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the SOLAS Convention, safety was at the forefront of IACS’s work programme for 2024. This was exemplified by the new Safe Digital Transformation Panel, which began its important work to identify and mitigate any safety risks posed by shipping’s ongoing digital transformation.

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