As 2024 marked the 50th anniversary of the SOLAS Convention’s adoption, IACS placed a strong emphasis on safety in its work programme. This commitment was reflected in the establishment of the new Safe Digital Transformation Panel, which took on the crucial task of identifying and addressing potential safety risks arising from the shipping industry’s ongoing digital evolution, as highlighted in IACS’s recently published Annual Review.
Technical and digital advances featured heavily in IACS’s programme for 2024, including the significant challenge posed by new technologies and alternative fuels when it comes to the safety and reliability of engines and other onboard systems. IACS’s work in emerging fields was further highlighted by its work on remote surveys, which included the development of a new Unified Requirement to ensure uniform standards in the conduct of surveys undertaken without the presence of a surveyor.
The report highlights a number of other areas of important work, including safety standards for gas carriers, improvements to the implementation of the Safe Return to Port (SRtP) scheme for passenger ships, and further guidance to support compliance with ballast water management system (BWMS) standards. 2024 also saw extensive consultation with industry and Flag States on the ongoing comprehensive review of the IACS Common Structural Rules, which will continue into 2025 and until their expected adoption in four years’ time.
Although digital and technological innovation has been a core focus of IACS’s work, the human element has remained at the heart of IACS safety agenda.
As the report explores, IACS has continued to invest heavily in training and guidelines that support the role of people, including the risks posed to and by people in a ship’s lifecycle.
2024 was an extremely busy year for IACS, which saw us deliver a diverse work programme, with safety at the heart of all we do, whether that was through our strong presence at IMO, our close collaboration and engagement with industry partners, or our new and revised rules, recommendations and guidance. Through the collective efforts of our team and our members, IACS is playing a significant role upholding our purpose of safer, cleaner shipping.
…said Robert Ashdown, IACS Secretary General.
Roberto Cazzulo, Chair of the IACS Council, emphasized that IACS has been at the forefront of establishing the standards necessary to ensure vessel safety and environmental protection during a period of transformation for the maritime industry. He added that the rapid pace of change demands a swift and adaptable response to address the technical and safety challenges facing shipping.
The report recognises IACS’s extensive programme of engagement and support for industry at a technical and strategic level with a wide range of regulatory authorities, representative bodies and other stakeholder groups, most notably at the IMO, where IACS works closely with the secretariat and member states to deliver on the shared safety vision of both organisations. In 2024, the collective contribution from IACS and its members resulted in 77 submissions to IMO, along with the co-sponsorship of a further 12 papers.
IACS and the IMO’s relationship and shared safety vision has delivered many regulatory achievements
IACS also plays an important role as a convenor and partner with industry stakeholders through other initiatives, such as the Joint Industry Working Group (JIWG) on Safe Decarbonisation, which was established last year. Through regular technical meetings and workshops, the feedback and insight from these discussions has fed directly into IACS’s rules and recommendations.
