Lloyd's Register
British maritime classification society certifying autonomous and remotely-operated vessels.
Last refreshed: 29 May 2026
Will Lloyd's Register class certification create a divergent standard from IMO MASS national interpretations?
Timeline for Lloyd's Register
First global code for crewless ships
Autonomous Systems: Land & Sea- Does Lloyd's Register certify autonomous ships?
- Yes. Lloyd's Register certifies autonomous and remotely operated vessels under its own class rules, ahead of the IMO MASS Code entering force on 1 July 2026.Source:
- What is Lloyd's Register's role in the MASS Code debate?
- Lloyd's Register is one of the classification societies already certifying autonomous ships before the IMO MASS Code becomes mandatory in 2032. The risk is that its standards and national MASS Code interpretations may diverge during the Experience Building Phase.Source:
- How old is Lloyd's Register and what does it do?
- Lloyd's Register was founded in 1760 and is one of the world's oldest maritime classification societies, headquartered in London. It sets technical safety standards for ships, offshore platforms, and autonomous vessels.
Background
Lloyd's Register is one of the world's oldest maritime classification societies, headquartered in London. Like DNV, it certifies autonomous and remotely operated vessels under its own class rules, ahead of the IMO MASS Code entering force on 1 July 2026. As a class society, Lloyd's Register sets technical safety standards that determine whether a vessel can be classed and insured. Its advance certification work in maritime autonomy means the MASS Code is legitimising existing commercial practice rather than leading it.
Lloyd's Register was founded in 1760 and is one of the founding institutions of the global shipping insurance and classification system. Its work spans commercial shipping, offshore energy, rail and nuclear industries. In autonomous shipping it certifies vessels operating under reduced or remote crewing, and its standards are influential with flag states developing national MASS policies during the Experience Building Phase (2026–2032).
For the Royal Navy's autonomy programme, Lloyd's Register's UK base and its existing work with defence primes makes it a natural certification partner for naval autonomous surface and underwater systems. The risk the briefing identifies is that Lloyd's Register class rules, national flag interpretations, and the IMO code may not align during the non-mandatory period.
