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EnglishWhat Does IACS Say About Safety Aspects of New Technologies and Fuels in Shipping?
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IACS frames the safety of new technologies and fuels around one goal: developing new instruments that make emerging designs inherently safer, built on industry standards and best practices and aligned with the IGF Code and other relevant regulations. On iacs.org.uk this work is presented as a dedicated position paper, "Safety Aspects of New Technologies and Fuels," which is the entry point for anyone who wants the association's detailed view.
What IACS actually commits to
The position paper sets out a three-part approach:
- New instruments for new risks. As technologies and fuels move beyond established practice, IACS says it is focused on developing new requirements rather than stretching old ones.
- Industry standards and best practices as the foundation. The work draws on what the industry already uses, instead of inventing parallel rules.
- Inherently safer design. The stated aim is to reduce risk at the design stage, with compliance to the IGF Code and other relevant regulations as the baseline.
The IGF Code reference matters: it is the international code for ships using gases or other low-flashpoint fuels, so the position paper is squarely about fuel and technology transitions, not general ship safety.
Where this sits among IACS positions
The same page groups this paper with other technology-facing positions, which helps you see the scope:
| Topic | IACS position in brief |
|---|---|
| New technologies and fuels | New instruments, industry best practice, inherently safer design, IGF Code compliance |
| GHG emissions from ships | IMO goal-based regulations are the right global means; IACS assists with practical detail and implementation |
| Maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS) | Active participation in relevant forums, technical expertise, partnerships with regulators and industry |
| Nuclear propulsion | Support for safe, secure and environmentally responsible integration of nuclear power into ship design and operations |
Read together, these show a consistent method: use goal-based IMO regulation, then help turn it into practical detail.
How to use the page
If you need the primary source, go to iacs.org.uk and open the Position Papers section, then select "Safety Aspects of New Technologies and Fuels." The page also lists an Annual Review and a recurring IACS End User Workshop — the 18th edition is announced for Brewers' Hall, London, over 1.5 days starting Wednesday 18 November, with the invitation extended to anyone who would like to attend. That workshop is a practical route if you want to raise implementation questions directly.
What this means in practice
For a designer, operator or regulator working on a low-flashpoint fuel or a novel technology, the IACS position signals the expected direction: start from the IGF Code and recognised industry standards, and aim for design-level safety rather than added controls. The position paper is the document to cite when you need to show that alignment. Note that the page describes positions and activities; it does not publish the technical requirements themselves, which sit in the relevant codes and IACS instruments.