Flag States and Classification Societies have joined forces to launch the Maritime Technologies Forum (MTF) to provide technical and regulatory research to assist the shipping sector and its regulators address technology challenges.
Founding members of the MTF include American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), DNV, Japan’s Maritime Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), Lloyd’s Register (LR), Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK), the Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA), and the UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
The regulatory framework for the development and use of new technology must remain up to date to ensure advances assure the safety of people, assets and the environment. By bringing together expertise to offer guidance and advice on technical and regulatory challenges, the MTF will support the shipping industry and the International Maritime Organization to navigate and embrace the impact of these changes
says the MTF.
Key focus areas for the forum will include energy efficiency, alternative fuels and increasing levels of autonomy. MTF members will also collaborate on research and draw on their collective regulatory expertise to offer advice to the shipping sector.
The Forum’s work will be published, and members will share insight and guidance with, and invite contributions from others in the marine industry, to enable the effective safe testing and adoption of new technologies while also helping shape global regulation.
The Maritime Technologies Forum Steering Committee, stated on the occassion:
Our seven organisations will collectively offer technical and regulatory leadership for the benefit of the maritime industry at large. The pace of change in the maritime industry is accelerating more so than ever before and driving the need for robust and agile advice to support accelerated technology adoption. We look forward to working collaboratively to support shipping and the IMO in tackling the fundamental technological challenges facing the maritime industry
