New mandatory regulations for intelligent ship monitoring have taken effect—Is your vessel ready?

At 3 a.m., the on-duty helmsman’s eyelids grew heavier and heavier. Unnoticed, the ship was drifting off course.

 

 

If there were a system capable of automatically detecting such fatigue states, immediately issuing an alert, and simultaneously notifying the shore-based operations— This is not a hypothetical scenario; starting September 1, 2026, the China Maritime Safety Administration will require all domestically navigating motorized vessels to possess this capability.

PART 01

What happened?

 

On July 13, 2026, the Maritime Safety Administration of the Ministry of Transport officially issued Technical Rules for Statutory Inspection of Sea-going Ships Engaged in Domestic Voyages (Amendment Notice, 2026) , Article 2-1.3.12 has been added, for the first time incorporating the shipborne intelligent monitoring system into the statutory inspection requirements for domestic‑voyage sea vessels.

This means that ships are equipped with intelligent monitoring systems. From “encouraged installation” to “legally mandated” — No longer an optional item, but a mandatory inspection requirement for vessel surveys.

 

How does the original text of the regulation define “shipborne intelligent monitoring system”?

 

Using computer vision techniques, video footage of onboard activities captured during vessel operations is processed, analyzed, and computationally evaluated. Without requiring human intervention, sequential images are automatically analyzed to locate, identify, and track vessels, personnel, and vehicle movements within the monitored scene, detect unsafe behaviors, and issue alerts or provide actionable information.

The regulations also define "Intelligent Surveillance System Terminal" — namely, a hardware device mounted at the front of the vessel, equipped with edge‑computing capabilities for target detection, which can automatically monitor and identify unsafe human behaviors and unsafe conditions of objects. Moreover, it can still deliver relevant alarm notifications even in the absence of an internet connection. This definition directly aligns with the subsequent requirement of “resume downloading after a network interruption”: the terminal itself must be capable of offline operation, rather than becoming inoperable once the network is lost.

On the same day, the Maritime Safety Administration issued a supplementary notice. Technical Guidelines for Ship Intelligent Monitoring Systems (Version 2.0) (hereinafter referred to as “Guidelines 2.0”) , replacing the previous version 1.0, it sets higher standards across dimensions such as algorithmic accuracy, data closed-loop management, ship‑shore collaboration, and compliance verification. The industry has officially entered a new phase characterized by unified standards, standardized functional metrics, and consistent verification protocols.

 

PART 02

Who needs to install it? When should it be installed?

 

The new regulations have broad coverage—applying to all domestically operating motorized vessels, both newly built and existing. However, installation deadlines vary depending on the vessel type:

 

⚠ Important Reminder

For passenger ships, oil tankers, gas carriers, and chemical tankers, as well as existing high-speed passenger vessels, if a periodic survey is scheduled in the near future, it must be ensured that the system has been installed and has passed functional verification.

 

PART 02

Route A: Existing Vessels

 

The notice is for Monitoring systems already installed on existing vessels Space has been reserved for free rebooking—though this applies only to specific vessel types:

✅ Ships eligible for exemption from reflagging

General cargo ships (including high-speed cargo ships) and high-speed passenger ships — If the installed monitoring system simultaneously meets both of the following conditions, it may, with the approval of the inspection body, be exempted from replacement, provided that this is noted on the certificate.

 

Condition 1: The cab alarm function meets the required standards.

 

✔ Cargo vessels must implement six types of alerts: fatigue driving, personnel leaving their posts during navigation, mobile phone use, smoking by personnel (where applicable), video surveillance equipment malfunctions, and terminal offline status.

✔ High-speed vessels (including high-speed cargo ships and high-speed passenger ships) must meet five requirements: the aforementioned six items do not include “persons smoking.”

 

Condition 2: Communication transmission capability meets the standard.

 

✔ Supports real-time transmission via 4G/5G/satellite networks to the shore-based management platform.

✔ Records locally in real time when offline, and automatically resends the data once signal coverage is restored.

 

❌ No ship types eligible for free replacement

Passenger ships, oil tankers, gas carriers, and chemical tankers — Regardless of whether the existing system meets the requirements, the exemption from replacement does not apply; systems must be installed in accordance with the new standards to comply with “Guideline 2.0.”

 

PART 03

Route B: Newly Installed Vessels

 

Whether it is the first installation on a newly built vessel, the first installation on an existing vessel, or a retrofit installation on an existing vessel—any newly installed shipborne intelligent monitoring system must comply with all the requirements set forth in Circular 2‑1.3.12.3.

Standard basis: All applicable requirements of “Guideline 2.0”

The newly installed system shall comply with the “Technical Guidelines for Ship Intelligent Monitoring Systems (Version 1.0)” and its… Latest version (i.e., the requirements of “Guideline 2.0”).

Video Coverage Areas: Categorized by Vessel Type

Passenger ships, oil tankers, gas carriers, chemical tankers, and newly built high-speed passenger vessels. : Video surveillance equipment shall cover all areas required by the “Technical Guidelines for Ship Intelligent Monitoring Systems (Version 1.0)” and its latest revisions, including the bridge, deck, engine room, pump room, and other such spaces.

 

Other than this Other cargo vessels, newly installed high-speed cargo vessels : Video surveillance equipment may be limited to covering only the cab area.

Communication Transmission: Real-time transmission when online; local storage when offline.

The system must pass through 4G, 5G, satellite networks, or other methods , transmitting monitoring data to the shore-based management platform in real time. When a vessel enters a signal‑blind zone—such as offshore areas or canyon waters—the system must locally and in real time record all monitoring data, automatically resending it to the shore base once the vessel returns to a covered area.

Hardware Compatibility: The protection rating must match the explosion-proof requirements.

of the monitoring system Enclosure Protection Level and Explosion-proof type It shall be compatible with the installation location. Furthermore, if the ambient conditions at the installation site do not meet the requirements for clear detection, the video surveillance equipment shall be equipped with night‑vision functionality.

 

PART 04

What has been upgraded in version 2.0?

 

Compared with Version 1.0, the core changes in “Guideline 2.0” go beyond merely “adding a few more alert models”; they represent an upgrade of the entire regulatory framework— Shifting from “post‑event accountability” to “pre‑emptive early warning and in‑process intervention.”

 

 

PART 05

Surveillance Scenario: What Is the AI Seeing?

 

The core capability of the ship’s intelligent monitoring system is to use AI to replace human operators in continuously watching surveillance screens. Footage captured by cameras is analyzed in real time by an onboard edge-computing terminal, which automatically detects unsafe behaviors— No need for constant human supervision—the system monitors, analyzes, and triggers alerts on its own.

Existing vessels are exempt from the minimum threshold for replacement (cab‑only scenario)

 

 

All requirements for the newly installed system (covering areas categorized by ship type)

 

 

Key difference

 

Existing cargo vessels apply for exemption from re‑inspection. , the minimum requirements are only 6 items for the wheelhouse (5 items for high-speed vessels).

Newly installed systems must be configured in accordance with all applicable requirements of the “Guideline 2.0.” — Passenger ships and oil‑chemical tankers shall be equipped with fire‑extinguishing systems covering all spaces, including the wheelhouse, decks, engine room, and pump room; for other cargo ships, newly installed systems may be limited to the wheelhouse, but must still comply with the 2.0 standard.

 

PART 06

Which vessels are exempt from installation?

 

The regulations also provide for exemptions; the following situations are exempt from installation:

× Non-self-propelled vessels such as crane ships and dredgers used for engineering operations

× Harbor Tugboat

× Vessels that are scrapped or permanently withdrawn from service within one year after the prescribed installation deadline

× Vessels without a bridge or other facilities that genuinely lack the conditions for installation (subject to approval by the ship inspection authority)

 

PART 07

How should alerts be handled? A three-tier response, with escalation at each level.

 

Identifying problems is only the first step; the key lies in how you address them afterward. "Guide 2.0" A dual-channel mechanism of “on-site alerts + remote alerts” and a three-tier response and handling procedure have been established:

 

 

High-risk alerts (such as open flames, personnel falling into the water, etc.) are not subject to any limit on the number of occurrences. The captain and the enterprise’s principal are notified simultaneously upon the first trigger.

Data authenticity

When an alert is triggered, the system automatically captures photos and records video, overlaying vessel name, location, and timestamp, with MD5-based anti-counterfeiting verification. Data across the vessel‑side, enterprise platform, and maritime authority platform are fully synchronized—any attempt to tamper with the data will result in a mismatch of the “digital fingerprint.”

 

PART 08

What should the shipowner do now?

 

In light of regulatory requirements and industry best practices, Yagena recommends that shipping companies adopt a three‑step approach:

 

Step 1: Take stock of your household assets. Immediately conduct a comprehensive review of the company’s fleet and prioritize installation based on vessel type, operational area, and inspection cycle. Passenger ships, oil tankers, and chemical tankers comprise the first tier; deep-sea and coastal cargo vessels form the second tier; while coastal and sheltered‑water cargo vessels may be given some leeway but should not be delayed.

 

Step 2: Selection and Evaluation. Confirm whether the system vendor’s products have passed the alarm‑model validation for the corresponding scenarios outlined in “Guideline 2.0,” and verify that the hardware meets the technical requirements, including at least 6 TOPS of computing power, support for at least six 720P video streams, and multi‑link transmission capabilities. For oil‑chemical vessels, also confirm that the explosion‑proof rating of deck equipment complies with the GB/T 3836 series standards.

 

Step 3: Drawing review → Installation → Functional verification—none of these three steps can be omitted. The regulations explicitly require three key stages: ① Prior to installation, the intelligent monitoring system must be… Electrical system diagram and layout drawing Submit to the ship inspection authority Review and Approval ; ② After installation is complete, the inspection agency must inspect… Confirm system utility. ; ③ During each subsequent periodic inspection, the inspection agency will also assess the effectiveness of the installed system. Ongoing review First review the drawings, then install, and finally confirm—the sequence must not be reversed; omitting even a single step will result in failure to pass inspection.

 

 

Practical advice

 

Even if your vessel can currently apply for an exemption from replacement under Route A, you should bear one point in mind: an exemption merely means “you may choose not to replace,” not that “you will never need to upgrade.” As the existing system ages, components are discontinued, or inspection standards become stricter, a transition to Version 2.0 will inevitably be required sooner or later. We recommend taking advantage of the scheduled inspection window to assess the situation: if the gap with the new standard is relatively small, proceed directly to upgrading to the Guidelines 2.0; if the gap is substantial and the exemption criteria are indeed met, first apply for an exemption to buy time during the transition, while simultaneously developing a comprehensive upgrade plan.

 

Yagena Technology continuously monitors policy developments and industry trends in the maritime intelligence sector, striving to deliver professional, reliable IT solutions for the shipping industry. For information on selecting intelligent monitoring systems, ensuring compliant installation, or integrating with shore-based platforms, please feel free to contact us.