![The harbour tug POSH Harvest, which has been fitted with autonomous navigation and collision detection and collision avoidance (CDCA) technology as part of the Smart Maritime Autonomous Vessel (SMAV) project of Singaporean firms ST Engineering, POSH, and M1. The SMAV project received approval in principle from ABS in 2021. (Photo: ST Engineering)](http://media.assettype.com/bairdmaritime%2Fimport%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F220314-2-ABS.jpg?w=480&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max)
ABS has published a whitepaper proposing a goal-based framework for future rules to enable autonomous vessel operations.
The ABS Autonomous Vessels Whitepaper is designed to support the industry's increasing adoption of autonomous capabilities with a focus on safe implementation. It sets out 10 goals to create a framework for the design and operation of autonomous vessels and addresses key issues in implementation.
The whitepaper also includes an update on the outcome of the IMO's Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) Regulatory Scoping Exercise, which ABS said is an important step in the development of requirements governing autonomous operations.