The international shipping industry is set to receive its first global regulations for autonomous and remotely controlled cargo ships. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted the new MASS Code at the Maritime Safety Committee MSC 111 in London. MASS stands for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships. This refers to vessels that operate fully or partially autonomously or are remotely controlled from a control center on land. The code will apply to cargo ships starting July 1, 2026. It is initially voluntary but is intended as a pilot for future binding regulations. This is an important step for maritime freight. Until now, there have been many technical trials and pilot projects, but no globally uniform framework. This is set to change. The MASS Code regulates how such ships should be safely designed, authorized, and operated. It is not just about technology. The code also addresses remote control, connectivity, cybersecurity, navigation, fire protection, search and rescue obligations, and the role of control centers on land. It is also important to note that responsibility does not simply hang in the air. The IMO emphasizes that the master remains fully responsible for the ship, even if they are not on board. This is a significant point. Autonomous ships raise many practical questions. Who intervenes if the connection is lost? Who decides in bad weather? How is a fire fought when there is no crew on board? Who is liable if an autonomous ship reacts incorrectly? These are the kinds of questions that need to be clarified step by step now. The code is therefore not a free pass for unmanned container ships on all the world's oceans. It is more of a starting signal for a regulated testing phase. Starting December 2026, the IMO will prepare a trial phase. By 2028, work on a binding MASS Code is expected to begin. The goal is for the mandatory regulations to come into force on January 1, 2032. For shipping companies, classification societies, insurers, ports, and authorities, this marks the beginning of a new phase. Autonomous ships will not become the norm overnight. However, they will no longer be treated solely as a thing of the future. Regulation is now gradually being put into practice.