The 7th International Ship Autonomy and Sustainability Summit will bring together leading maritime experts and stakeholders to explore the future of autonomous shipping and the wide implications of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS). Discussions will address the technical, economic, environmental and social impacts of MASS and its role in shaping the future of global shipping.
With the first international regulatory framework for autonomous ships – the non-mandatory IMO MASS Code – now adopted, the Summit will examine the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. What impact will the Code have on the maritime sector? What modes of autonomy are likely to be in demand? Where do regulatory and operational gaps remain, and how can they be addressed? Through keynote presentations and expert discussions, high-level speakers will demystify MASS and provide valuable insights into the next chapter of maritime innovation.
Now in its seventh edition and taking place in Sweden for the first time, the Summit is co-organised by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE), the Norwegian Forum for Autonomous Ships, and the World Maritime University. The event will be of particular interest to maritime industry representatives, policymakers, researchers, technology providers, and other stakeholders engaged in the digital and sustainable transformation of shipping.
The event is co-organised by the European Commission’s Directorate General for Mobility and Transport, the World Maritime University and the Norwegian Forum for Autonomous Ships.
Link to EU DG MOVE's information page and registration link.
Magda Kopczyńska | Director General for Mobility and Transport, European Commission
Damien Chevallier | Director, Maritime Safety Division, International Maritime Organization (IMO)
TBD | Norwegian Ministry for Fisheries and Ocean Policy
TBD | Region Skåne/Sweden
Ørnulf Jan Rødseth | Manager, Norwegian Forum for Autonomous Ships (NFAS)
Fotini Ioannidou | Director Waterborne, DG MOVE, European Commission
Charles McHardy | Marshall Islands / Chair, IMO MASS working group
Sascha Pristrom | Head, Marine Technology and Goal Based Standards, IMO
How should we use the new MASS Code? Will we see new sailing patterns now? What obstacles are removed by the MASS Code, which ones remain? Which gaps should we further look at? And can we learn from the military also for civilian operations?
Moderator: Fotini Ioannidou | Director Waterborne, DG MOVE, European Commission
Angeliki Zisimatou | IACS Safe Digital Transformation Panel Chair, ABS
Sotiris Raptis | Secretary-General, European Shipowners (ECSA)
Christophe Tytgat | Secretary-General, SEA Europe
TBD | Navies / dual use / EDA
Professor Michael Ekow Manuel | WMU Vice-President (Provost)
Professor Jens-Uwe Schröder-Hinrichs | WMU Vice-President
Flag State Administrations. What will actually change now? Same pace, direction, …? How do we use the MASS Code and build on it? Does the MASS Code make approvals simpler, and how? Trust?
Moderator: TBD | WMU
Mats Hammander | Senior expert, Section for Ship Safety, The Swedish Transport Agency
Lisbeth Toft | Senior Legal Adviser, Norwegian Maritime Administration
Ryota Sakaida | Chief Researcher, Regulations Unit, Japan Ship Technology Research Association
TBD | Danish Maritime Authority
TBD | EMSA
Kristoffer Kloch | University of Aalborg
Time for the big questions and deep discussion: What do we have, what not? What inputs, what information sharing is purposeful? How do we deal with the conservative mindset in shipping? What to do about the Remote Operating Centres (ROCs)? And overall, what is needed, but has not been looked at yet? Which gaps do you perceive? What can we do about these gaps?
Moderator: Jacob Terling, DG MOVE, European Commission
Jérôme Faivre | Head of Digital & Autonomous Ships Rules, Bureau Veritas BV
Lisbeth Toft | Norwegian Maritime Administration
Berit Letting | Head of Risk and Reliability, DNV
Prof. John McDermid | University of York
Ørnulf Jan Rødseth | Chair ISO TC8/SC11
Prof. Nikolaos P. Ventikos | National Technical University of Athens
Magda Kopczyńska | Director General DG MOVE, European Commission
Professor Jens-Uwe Schröder-Hinrichs | Vice-President WMU
Ørnulf Jan Rødseth | Manager, Norwegian Forum for Autonomous Ships (NFAS)
Fotini Ioannidou | Director Waterborne, DG MOVE, European Commission