What the IMO is preparing for batteries

The 111th session of the Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organization ran from 13 to 22 May 2026. It agreed an extensive package of amendments taking effect on 1 January 2028. Much of it applies only from 300 gross tonnage and therefore touches only the upper edge of the yacht world.

Three points reach beyond that edge. Work on guidelines for battery energy storage on board has been moved to another sub committee and given high priority there. It is the strand on which hybrid and fully electric yachts, day boats and tenders hang most directly.

Second, the committee adopted interim guidelines for ships using hydrogen as fuel, with immediate effect. They cover tanks, piping, bunkering, fire protection, ventilation and monitoring. They will become the document flag states refer to when approving a hydrogen installation on board.

Third, the guidelines for the use of fibre reinforced plastic in ship structures were revised, limited to fire protection. New are test procedures for composite specimens, one variant based on temperature and one on deflection. That hits boatbuilding most directly in substance, because composite is the normal case there.