The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) is preparing to fast-track measures to allow remote surveys, which have been used increasingly during the pandemic.
The move is one of several decarbonisation and digitalisation initiatives to be undertaken by the modernised IACS, which has underdone far-reaching governance reforms under outgoing chairman Koichi Fujiwara.
At the IACS council meeting, it was agreed to develop a unified requirement for remote surveys by October. This aims to provide the basis for remote surveys to attain the same standard as physical surveys.
IACS also wants to start a discussion at the next International Maritime Organization Maritime Safety Committee meeting, which will focus on reforming the Safety of Life at Sea Convention, to accommodate remote surveys and other technology developments.
A new expert group has also been established to monitor the safety of recently agreed decarbonisation measures and technologies. IACS wants to ensure the consistent global application of short-term decarbonisation regulations that enter into force from 2023.
The association is also developing cyber resilience requirements for onboard systems and equipment.
The work schedule will be headed by incoming chairman Nick Brown, who took over from Fujiwara following the council meeting. Brown is chief executive of Lloyd's Register.
The position of chairman has been extended from one to two-and-a-half years under governance changes that Brown said would ensure IACS maintains its ability to contribute to and harmonise diverse work streams and develop new ideas and practices.
Reflecting on his year at the head of IACS, Fujiwara, who is chairman of Japan's ClassNK, said the association's response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the rapid expansion of remote surveys were vital to ensuring business continuity in shipping while maintaining high safety standards.
"I hope that the agility displayed in this instance will be replicated elsewhere as the new governance changes start to take effect," he said. "I am proud to leave IACS well positioned to assist industry and regulators in meeting the many challenges ahead."
