The Fassmer shipyard and the classification society DNV will be collaborating in future on the development of autonomous and remotely operated vessels. The memorandum of understanding was signed at SMM 2026.
For Fassmer, this collaboration means additional support for its growing portfolio of unmanned systems. According to a joint statement, the partners are applying the full range of DNV guidelines on quality assurance, regulations, classification marks for autonomous and remotely operated ships (AROS) and supporting technical standards to Fassmer’s programmes for unmanned vessels. The collaboration therefore encompasses the assessment of operational concepts for autonomous vessels, the qualification of novel technologies to support autonomous functions, and the development of certification roadmaps within the framework of the AROS regulations.
The aim of the collaboration is to work towards a potential ‘Approval in Principle’ (AiP) – a general approval – in accordance with DNV’s AROS regulatory framework. This will involve assessing the requirements for autonomous ship functions, including aspects of navigation, marine engineering, operations and safety. Furthermore, the partners intend to contribute their findings to the development of international standards and regulatory frameworks for autonomous shipping, thereby strengthening Germany and Europe as centres for maritime autonomy.
“Autonomous shipping will fundamentally transform the maritime industry,” said Thomas Sass, Director of Sales at Fassmer. “Here at Fassmer, we see this as a major opportunity to further enhance the safety, efficiency and operational capability of our specialised vessels. That is why we are working intensively on autonomous systems and the requirements of DNV’s AROS regulations. The signing of the MoU with DNV is an important milestone for us; it enables closer cooperation to put innovative concepts into practice and help shape the future of shipping.”
Rasmus Stute, Vice President and Area Manager for Germany at DNV, added: “In recent years, we have seen how the development and deployment of autonomous systems have become one of the cornerstones of defence and naval operations. The framework for their development, as well as ensuring a level of safety equivalent to that of conventional ships, is still being established. Our AROS family of regulations was developed to support the industry in the increasing adoption of technologies for autonomous shipping.”
According to Stute, the unique characteristics of autonomous ships bring with them numerous novel concepts that require a flexible approach to a wide variety of requirements. The company is therefore delighted to be collaborating with Fassmer. “The company is contributing its operational experience to our technical expertise, which helps us to deepen our understanding and integrate new perspectives into our work,” said Stute.
The AROS notation standards, which have been available since January 2025, define functional requirements in the areas of navigation, ship operations, safety and ship operation. They cover a broad spectrum of operating modes – from remote control and decision support to supervised and full autonomy – regardless of whether the vessel is controlled from on board, from shore or through a combination of both. The set of rules aims to demonstrate that autonomous ships achieve a level of safety equivalent to that of conventional ships.
