8th ICMASS

About ICMASS-ISSS 2025

This is the 8th International Conference on Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (ICMASS) and the Intelligent & Smart Shipping Symposium (ISSS).

ICMASS serves as the leading international forum for discussing technological, regulatory, and operational developments in the field of MASS.

ISSS, running in parallel, focuses on smart‑shipping innovations and intelligent maritime systems that support the broader digital transformation of the maritime sector.

Together, ICMASS and ISSS provide a platform for experts from research, industry, and government to share insights, present findings, and shape the dialogue around the future of autonomous and intelligent maritime transport.

The 2025 programme concentrates on MASS Technology and MASS Operations, while also featuring dedicated sessions on MASS Business and Intelligent Ships and Smart Shipping. These overarching topics are explored through a variety of research questions.

MASS Technology

explores core technologies that enable autonomous ships to sense, navigate, and operate safely and effectively. It also addresses systems for remote control, communication, and propulsion, as well as strategies for technical safety, standardisation, and design for seaworthiness. Moreover, it includes concepts for the requirements of MASS‑ready ports and the need for standardisation and harmonisation within the field.

  • Which technologies have been proven suitable for MASS vessels for Sensing?
  • Which technologies have been proven suitable for MASS vessels for Navigation?
  • Which technologies have been proven suitable for MASS vessels for Remote Control?
  • Which technologies have been proven suitable for MASS vessels for Communication?
  • Which technologies have been proven suitable for MASS vessels for Propulsion and Manoeuvring?
  • How to progress from MASS technical feasibility and MASS technical safety?
  • How to ensure safety of MASS systems by design?
  • How to qualify safety of MASS technology?
  • Which technical standardisation and harmonisation needs for MASS exists?
  • How to ensure cargo and/or passenger safety onboard MASS?
  • How to enable good seamanship and seaworthiness onboard MASS?
  • How can the impact of severe weather on MASS capabilities be dealt with?
  • How does the MASS-ready port look like?

MASS Operations

focuses on operational feedback from trials, human‑machine interaction, shore‑based control limitations, and the evolution of maritime roles and competencies. Additional contributions highlight the integration of autonomous systems into traditional shipping operations and explore how to maintain safe, secure, and socially accepted MASS activities in a complex maritime environment, including a section on remote‑pilotage applications.

  • What is the feedback from MASS trials?
  • How to enable safe and effective human interaction with MASS system?
  • How can autonomous decision-making processes be made interpretable for humans?
  • Which qualifications, competences and trainings are need for MASS operations?
  • What are the limitations of shore-based intervention to be accepted?
  • What is MASS impact on todayʼs maritime operations?
  • How to ensure safe operations of MASS?
  • How to ensure cyber- and physical secure operations of MASS?
  • How must MASS interact with other waterborne actors?
  • What is MASS impact for societal challenges?

MASS  Business

addresses the economic and strategic dimensions of MASS adoption. It examines market opportunities, articulates value propositions, identifies investment barriers, and outlines the role of public policy in supporting the transition to autonomous shipping.

  • What opportunities are provided by MASS?
  • What is the value of MASS Use Cases e.g for shipping, logistics or offshore?
  • Which value propositions have proven their commercial viability at scale?
  • How can the uptake of MASS be incentivised?
  • What can MASS contribute to resilience and security?
  • Where does MASS (re-)vitalise shipbuilding and maritime supply industry?
  • What enables MASS adoption?
  • How must a regional/short sea market look like for MASS cost parity?
  • How would a value chain in which MASS can flourish look like?
  • What is the value of public-funded R&D for MASS implementation?
  • What is obstructing the implementation of MASS?
  • Which business models come under threat by the wider adoption of MASS?
  • Which commercial barriers currently prevent larger private investments in MASS?

Intelligent Ships and Maritime Systems

highlights the latest innovations in digital maritime systems. Submissions cover topics including enhanced positioning resilience, sensor fusion for situational awareness, ship‑shore integration via digital twins, and the development of intelligent aids‑to‑navigation. Another main aspect focuses on how to improve navigation, safety, and operational efficiency through advanced digital technologies.

  • How to make satellite- or terrestrial-based positioning more resilient to enable intelligent vessels?
  • How to optimise navigation and path-planning by modern digital means?
  • How can sensor fusion create an accurate situational awareness picture in maritime surroundings?
  • What contributions can be made by digital twin methods and ship-shoreintegration?
  • Which intelligent aids-to-navigation can improve maritime safety?

Welcome

#1 Curiosity

Stay open-minded

#2 Respect

Only speak admiration and constructive criticism 

#3 Don’t tap the glass