IMO Charts Safety Course for Next-generation Ships Powered by Batteries, Wind and Nuclear Energy
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has taken a significant step toward future-proofing maritime safety, with its Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction (SDC) agreeing a draft workplan to develop safety rules for emerging, low- and zero-carbon ship technologies.
Meeting for its 12th session at IMO Headquarters in London from 19 to 23 January, the Sub-Committee—chaired by Mr. Erik Tvedt of Denmark—advanced work across a wide range of technical and environmental priorities, from alternative propulsion systems to underwater noise reduction.
Safety framework for GHG-reducing technologies
At the heart of SDC 12 was agreement on a draft workplan to develop a comprehensive safety regulatory framework for ships using new technologies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The workplan will be submitted to the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 111) for approval in May 2026.
The framework will focus on technologies under the Sub-Committee’s remit, including:
Nuclear power
Wind propulsion and wind-assisted power
Lithium-ion batteries and swappable traction battery containers
Closing the session, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez described completion of the draft workplan as a “major achievement”.
“This will ensure that safety considerations evolve in parallel with the rapid technological progress driven by the IMO’s Strategy on the Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships,” he said.
Clear regulatory milestones through 2030
Subject to endorsement by the Maritime Safety Committee, the workplan sets out a series of concrete milestones:
2028 (MSC 111): Adoption of amendments to SOLAS regulation II-1/41 to permit batteries as the main source of electrical power and lighting.
2029 (MSC 116): Approval of interim safety guidelines for ships using wind propulsion and wind-assisted power.
2030 (MSC 118): Adoption of a revised Nuclear Code and amendments to SOLAS chapter VIII.
To support this work, the Sub-Committee established the SDC Correspondence Group on GHG Safety, tasked with compiling and analysing information on nuclear and wind power and drafting amendments related to battery use. The group will report to SDC 13 in 2027.
Tackling underwater radiated noise from ships
SDC 12 also advanced IMO’s work under the Action Plan for the reduction of underwater radiated (URN) noise from commercial shipping, approved by MEPC 82 in 2024.
Experience-building phase extended
After reviewing lessons learned from the first three years of implementing the Revised URN Guidelines, the Sub-Committee agreed to invite MEPC 84 to extend the experience-building phase by a further two years, targeting completion in 2028. The extension would provide additional time to close gaps and overcome barriers to effective implementation.
New guidance linking efficiency and noise reduction
The Sub-Committee agreed draft technical guidance on co-optimizing energy efficiency and underwater radiated noise at both the design and retrofit stages, with a view to approval by MEPC 84.
The guidance highlights the synergies between energy efficiency measures and noise reduction, drawing on experience from the experience-building phase and outcomes of IMO workshops held in 2023 and 2025.
IMO study to establish URN baselines
Finally, SDC 12 agreed draft terms of reference for an IMO-commissioned study on underwater radiated noise emissions and asked the Secretariat to explore funding options.
The study will support future URN reduction targets by:
Generating in-water noise estimates
Establishing URN baselines for ships
Providing projections for current and future fleet emissions
With progress on alternative propulsion safety, materials guidance, remote inspections and environmental impacts, SDC 12 underscored IMO’s drive to ensure that innovation and safety move forward together as shipping accelerates its transition to a low-carbon future.
