Starting January 1, 2025, the Inland Waterways Police Regulations (BPR) will no longer require a crew on board vessels navigating Dutch inland waterways. From this date, parties can apply for an exemption to allow autonomous or remote navigation.
This change was recently announced by the Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management. The Ministry has been supporting the development of autonomous shipping since 2017 through the Smart Shipping program, which includes experiments with innovative “smart shipping” technologies on national waterways. Remote and autonomous navigation is seen as a key component in achieving safer and more sustainable transportation over waterways, with automation playing a vital role in enhancing the safety, sustainability, and competitiveness of the shipping industry.
Previously, any vessel using remote or autonomous navigation required the presence of a physical crew on board. However, there has been growing support in recent years for developing and implementing innovative techniques to enable unmanned sailing. A legal framework to regulate autonomous shipping in the future is also being prepared. In the meantime, applications for exemptions can be submitted through the RWS website.
Simultaneously, the global maritime shipping industry is moving forward with new initiatives, such as developing model regulations within the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as part of the ‘Maritime Autonomous Sea Vessels’ (MASS) initiative. The IMO aims to have the MASS Code ready to enter into force by 2028, which will also apply in the North Sea. More information is available on the IMO website.
This change marks a significant step towards a regulatory framework for the acceptance of autonomous vessels in the Netherlands.
