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In the rule-development domain, ClassNK has participated In the design and development phase, ClassNK aligns with in the International Association of Classi? cation Societies’ global regulatory consensus in recommending a goal-based ap- expert group on MASS since January 2020, contributing to proach, to account for the wide range of use cases that MASS considerations for the design and construction of MASS and are expected to offer and the various technologies that each will related systems. In 2018, the Society issued a provisional ver- require. Given the complexity of MASS as a system, the Soci- sion of its Guidelines for Concept Design of Automated Op- ety proposes to make use of the concept of V-model in systems eration/Autonomous Operation of Ships, with its Guidelines engineering. In this model, requirements are identi? ed in a top- for Automated/Autonomous Operation of Ships following in down manner at the design stage, and veri? cation is carried out 2020. It has also assisted in the publication of the Japanese in a bottom-up manner according to these requirements.

government’s MASS guidelines. With the aim of accelerating In the operation phase, since novel technologies can only be discussions and addressing concerns surrounding what remain fully understood once they have been implemented, ClassNK fast-developing technologies, ClassNK is also working hard also advocates a ‘vulnerability database’ for sharing feedback to share information on autonomous shipping. The Society from users with those responsible for technology develop- contributes papers to national and international journals, has ment, rule development and safety evaluation, where data on published a special feature on ‘Autonomous Operation’ in its defects and near-miss incidents is gathered and used as a foun-

Technical Journal and recently published a white paper on the dation for continuously updating regulatory requirements and topic. Drawing on the ? ndings of ClassNK’s research, certi- evaluation methods. ? cation and rule-development activities, the paper – Towards ClassNK believes the processes described in its white pa-

MASS social implementation – proposes a safety assessment per will be crucial to facilitating the social implementation framework for the design, development and operation of au- of MASS and ensuring the technology ful? ls its potential to tonomous vessels. enable safer, more ef? cient shipping operations.

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