IACS Embedding Human Element into Work Streams

The IACS’ Council, meeting last week in Rome for its 89th session (C89) under new Council Chair, Roberto Cazzulo, progressed a wide range of issues, foremost of which was the need for the human element to be considered at the earliest stage across all IACS’ work streams.  

The requirement for increased awareness and focus on how a ship’s crew can safely operate increasingly sophisticated vessels has led IACS to develop internal guidelines to address this need in a structured and consistent manner.

C89 was informed that more than 150 IACS technical experts had received training related to the fundamentals of human element impact assessment in the maritime sector. This course was developed by IACS Members’ human element experts who captured assumptions about modern ship and operating company operating context, including current trends of system complexity plus remote surveys and automation.

C89 agreed to develop this work into a high-level position paper to promote an understanding of these matters by industry and regulators and to ensure that safety concerns related to the human element are fully considered in the development of new technology. Recognizing the importance of collaborating with external parties on this issue, C89 also welcomed initial discussions with the Human Element Industry Group (HEIG) regarding the formation of an appropriate platform for collaboration with the industry.

The rapid deployment of new technologies into the maritime sector led IACS to establish its Safe Digital Transformation Panel last December. Council was appraised of the work that has been initiated in the last six months across areas such as complex systems, data quality and safety management for MASS and conceptualizing the scope of IACS’ engagement with regard to digitalized data. The establishment of project teams to develop recommendations on ship data quality and cyber security controls for ships-in-service was also welcomed.

C89 recognized the progress being made on safe decarbonization with five Unified Requirements under development on approval of lithium batteries, materials for hydrogen, ammonia treatment systems, carbon capture and fire-fighting systems for methanol. IACS’ Council was also advised of a new workstream on nuclear power and the establishment of a Joint Industry Working Group on Safe Decarbonisation together with an update on work with the Singapore MPA on gas dispersion simulation.

The evolution of IACS’ Common Structural Rules was discussed, and C89 noted the extensive consultation with industry taking place throughout 2024 (with further meetings planned for early October and at Tripartite), which is enabling IACS to address any concerns and deliver proposals that meet not only IACS’ aims as a technical organization but the industry’s common goals of safer and cleaner shipping.

C89 also noted that it is 18 months since the implementation of IACS’ Unified Requirement on Remote Survey (UR Z29). Council reaffirmed IACS’ commitment that remote surveys must be of at least the same quality as physical surveys and so initiated a review of UR Z29 that can build on feedback received from stakeholders and maintain its alignment with developments at IMO. C89 also recommended to extend the two quality management focus areas on the consistent implementation of UR Z29 and on the training of surveyors until end-2025.

C89 marked the end of Li Zhiyuan’s tenure as Chair of IACS’ General Policy Group, and Dr. Ajay Asok Kumar was welcomed as the new Chair.