Draft framework sets safety rules on battery, wind and nuclear-powered ships

The draft framework sets regulatory pathway through 2030.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has agreed on a draft safety workplan that sets out a regulatory timeline for battery-powered, wind-assisted and nuclear-powered ships, with the first amendments targeted for adoption in 2028 and interim wind propulsion guidelines due in 2029, the UN agency said in a press release.

The workplan was finalised at the 12th session of the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction held in London from 19 to 23 January, and will be submitted to the Maritime Safety Committee for approval at its session in May.

Under the proposed timeline, amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea are scheduled for adoption in 2028 to allow batteries, including lithium-ion systems and swappable traction battery containers, to be used as a main source of electrical power and lighting on ships.

The IMO plans to approve interim safety guidelines for wind propulsion and wind-assisted power in 2029, a move industry participants said would address regulatory gaps that have slowed adoption and provide greater certainty for shipowners, insurers and classification societies.

John Cooper, chief executive officer of BAR Technologies, said in a press release, “This development marks a vital milestone in the decarbonisation of the global fleet. By creating a regulatory environment that supports wind propulsion, the IMO is unlocking one of the most effective zero-emission technologies available today.”

The draft workplan also sets a 2030 target for adoption of a revised Nuclear Code and related amendments to SOLAS, as the IMO continues technical work through a correspondence group tasked with developing safety provisions for emerging ship technologies and reporting to the next sub-committee session in 2027.