IACS Annual Review 2023: Advancements in safety, decarbonisation and digital transformation

IACS (International Association of Classification Societies) published its 2023 Annual Review which includes a broad range of articles highlighting IACS’ work in 2023, with a strong emphasis on the significant advancements made in alternative fuels.

This includes the development of a new Unified Requirement on the release of ammonia from ammonia fuelled vessels, and the newly established Safe Digital Transformation Panel that focuses on the safety implications of increasingly digitised ships, together with IACS’ engagement with the industry on existing and emerging technical challenges.

The Annual Review also sheds light on IACS’ role in fostering technical cooperation and support to the IMO and its Member Flag States in advancing the safety of decarbonisation and related fields.

This edition of the annual review also has an array of in-depth technical articles on the loss of containers at sea, Underwater Radiated Noise, Rec 177 on Shipbuilding and Remedial Quality Standard for Machinery Piping Systems, along with updates on Quality and EU Matters, to name but a few.

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2023 was a busy, productive year for IACS, in which we continued to share our expertise and knowledge on a wide range of technical and regulatory matters. Much of this focused the safe development and deployment on alternative fuels, in support of shipping’s decarbonisation, as well as addressing the safety considerations of shipping’s digital transformation.

..Robert Ashdown, IACS Secretary General, said.

Through our standards and guidance, IACS and our members are playing an integral role in putting safety at the heart of shipping’s innovation, and our Annual Report highlights the breadth of our work during the past year.

…Robert highlights.

The Annual Review also includes details of all the new, updated, and deleted IACS Resolutions in 2023, as well as information on IACS’ numerous submissions to IMO and our ‘Class Report’, which contains data on the IACS fleet.

Supporting digitalisation and decarbonisation

As the structural changes dictated by the drivers of decarbonisation and digitalisation impact the maritime industry in ever more significant ways, ensuring
the safety and reliability of ships remains paramount. The pace of change makes it essential that new fuels and technologies are introduced safely and with full consideration for the safety of the ship’s crew and other shore-based personnel. Responding to these changes requires speed and agility in the development of common standards, whether they be in the form of IACS Resolutions or IMO or regional regulations.

While new fuels are vital for the industry to meet the IMO’s 2050 goal, shipping is not going to achieve this by building new ships alone; decarbonising the existing fleet is vital and this means the widespread deployment of new technologies and the commensurate ability to measure their success. The digitalisation of these engineering processes supports a ‘coping strategy’ in an increasingly complex world which makes the engineering of complexity more achievable and the prototyping, procurement, build, and assurance of complex assets more affordable than before. The ability to simulate prior to implementation can ensure safe arrangements more cost effectively in a shorter timescale.

This is why digitalisation is key to decarbonisation. In recognition of this, and of the accelerating pace of digitalisation within the industry, IACS established a Safe Digital Transformation Panel (SDTP) at the end of 2023. Recognising the inherent safety risks associated with the introduction of new digitised solutions, IACS is proactively developing measures to assist the industry in safely transitioning to the era of digitalisation. The establishment of SDTP aims to consolidate all IACS digitalisation activities within a single forum, enabling a holistic approach to addressing safety concerns and ensuring the integrity of maritime operations in the digital age.

The support that IACS can offer to regulators such as the IMO and ILO and the industry relates to the following values:

Leadership: ability to be ahead and co-operate with regulators and industry on initiatives that can effectively promote maritime safety, protection of
the environment and sustainability.
Technical knowledge: collective and individual knowledge and experience, leading to the development, adoption and implementation of technical rules and minimum requirements that reflect current practice and changing demands of society, supporting innovation and new technologies.
Quality performance: commitment of its Members to define and adhere to the highest global quality standards.
Transparency: ability to provide advice on the implementation of regulations, interpretations or enhancements thereof, if need is identified, so that
practical solutions can be effectively developed in co-operation and with the support of other stakeholders, increasing the trust on class.

IACS also engages bilaterally with individual flag State Administrations and regulatory bodies as required. Regionally, IACS is also active in Brussels promoting
the aims of IACS to European institutions and, where appropriate, making technical contributions to EU regulatory developments related to shipping.

Measuring underwater noise pollution from ships

Underwater Radiated Noise (URN) is the noise which a ship emits into the receiving waters due to regular operation. It has been recognised by the International
Maritime Organization (IMO) that the impact of URN on the maritime environment is both significant and on the rise, and that measures can, and should, be taken to reduce its levels. In 2023, the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) approved a revised edition of the 2014 Guidelines for the reduction of underwater noise from commercial shipping to address adverse impacts on marine life (MEPC.1/Circ.833).

Considering the growing concern around the detrimental impact of URN on many marine species, several IACS Members have published class notations to measure and characterise the underwater noise signature of ships and compare them with given limits. In parallel, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has gathered a workforce to develop and publish standards on all the detailed technical aspects of URN.

As explained, IACS has been working over the last few years to develop common means for how URN should be measured, analysed and reported in the future. A project team has carefully considered the various class guidances and requirements, and examined terminologies used in different standards, with a view to providing clarity and enabling comparisons between the different class notations. The project team also considers standards related to the measurement of URN from ISO, as well as from other bodies such as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

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