At the 103rd session of the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee — May 5 to 14, 2021 — the Committee finalized its regulatory scoping exercise (RSE) on Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS), providing an important first step in paving the way for focused discussions to ensure regulations keep pace with technological developments. The scoping exercise was initiated in 2017 to determine how safe, secure and environmentally sound MASS operations might be addressed in IMO instruments. The RSE highlighted a number of high-priority issues, including the development of terminology and definitions for such terms as “master,” “crew,” or “responsible person.” Other key issues include addressing the functional and operational requirements of the remote-control station and the possible designation of a remote operator as a seafarer. Click here for a deeper read.