IMO SYMPOSIUM ON THE FUTURE OF SHIP SAFETY

There is a trend towards a more scientific approach, including risk based methodologies, in the design and operation of the safe ship of today.

This trend is set to continue but it requires structured data collection and analysis methodologies to give shipping a sound basis from which to continuously improve. The advances in technology unavoidably outpace prescriptive regulation. Ships are being built today to meet demands and challenges not thought of until very recently and the innovation inherent in their design today will find its way into the mainstream design of tomorrow. As such there is a need to devise a regulatory framework that will encourage designs for safety through technological innovation and promotes operational excellence within clearly accepted high level parameters.

The Symposium aims to look ahead in the decades to come to the ships of the future that meet clear goals and functional requirements to fulfil the safety and, increasingly, the environmental protection expectations of Society. The ships of the future must provide a sustainable response to the needs of Society, industry and global trade and be operated within a framework which encourages a safety culture beyond mere compliance with statutory requirements. This will require all stakeholders to not only accept their own responsibilities but to work seamlessly with others to ensure that areas of shared or overlapping responsibility are always fully and effectively addressed.

The Symposium will discuss all of these issues from the standpoints of designers, builders, operators, regulators, class and academia and will provide the forum for a look over the horizon at the shape of things to come.

 

The Symposium will attempt to picture the world of the future and conceptualise shipping in that world in order to initiate the identification of actions needed to get from where we are today to where we want to be in that future world.

 

The Symposium is open by invitation only to attendees from Member States and observer organizations on the basis of an allocation of places. Places will necessarily be limited and others wishing to attend should contact a relevant Member State or observer to secure an invitation.