Classification society DNV and German shipbuilder Fassmer have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop and classify autonomous and remotely operated vessels.
As disclosed, DNV will apply its assurance guidelines and Autonomous and Remotely Operated Ships (AROS) class notations to Fassmer's unmanned vessel programs. Together, the partners will review operating concepts for autonomous vessels, test new supporting technologies, and build a roadmap toward certification. The partnership is expected to support Fassmer's growing portfolio of unmanned systems.
Fassmer noted that the goal is an Approval in Principle (AiP) for a vessel design under DNV's AROS notation — assessing the vessel's autonomous navigation, engineering, operational, and safety functions.
The AROS notations, available since January 2025, set requirements for navigation, engineering, safety, and operations. They cover everything from remote control and decision support to supervised and full autonomy — whether a vessel is controlled onboard, from shore, or both. The aim is for autonomous vessels to reach the same level of safety as conventional ships.
The partners also plan to feed their findings into international standards for autonomous shipping, helping to strengthen Germany and Europe as centers of maritime autonomy.
"Autonomous shipping will fundamentally change the maritime industry. We see it as a major opportunity to make our specialized vessels safer, more efficient, and more capable. Together with our partner ST-Engineering UIS, we've already been working closely with autonomous systems and DNV's AROS requirements. This MoU is an important milestone for us on the way to turning innovative ideas into practice and helping shape the future of shipping," Thomas Sass, Fassmer, said.
"Autonomous systems are becoming increasingly important for defense and naval operations. The frameworks for using them safely are still evolving, and our AROS notations were created to support the industry through this shift. Because autonomous ships involve many new concepts, a flexible approach is essential. We're glad to work with Fassmer — their operational experience sharpens our understanding and brings new perspectives to our risk analysis," a DNV spokesperson commented.
