The 109th session of the IMO Maritime Safety Committee (IMO MSC 109) convened from December 2 to 6 at the IMO headquarters in London, UK. During this meeting, all five proposals submitted by COSCO SHIPPING were successfully endorsed. These comprised:

Three informative proposals that underwent review and subsequent publication by the Secretariat:

·  Application and prospect of swappable traction lithium-ion battery container technology

·  A project on development of marine biofuels (FAME type) for safe use at a low-speed eingine bench and their use on real ships

·  A project on the Effect of Blending Ratio on the Characteristics of Calorific Value and Kinematic Viscosity of Marine Biofuel (FAME type) Oil

Two proposals were adopted following thorough deliberation:

·  Proposal for the amendment of the current IMO instruments and the development of new IMO instruments for the safe use of swappable traction lithium-ion battery containers

·  Proposal for Inclusion of a Preliminary Framework for ConOps in the MASS Code

The approval of proposals related to swappable traction lithium-ion battery container technology paves the way for the extensive international safety application of marine lithium battery technology. The MASS CODE proposals concerning smart ship operations will aid the industry in enhancing the implementation plans for autonomous vessels.

Key Concepts

FAME: FAME stands for Fatty Acid Methyl Ester, which is the first generation of biodiesel. It consists of a mixture of fatty acid methyl esters (C16~C22) derived from the transesterification or esterification of plant or animal fats and oils. FAME is one of the most commonly used marine biofuels.

MASS CODE: Regulations for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships

ConOps: ConOps refers to concept of operations or action files.