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assessing and strengthening cybersecurity on legacy vessels, aligning operational practices and system architectures with the principles established in IACS E26 and E27.Through these efforts, ABS incorporates cybersecurity into classification in the same structured way as other safety risks, helping owners and operators demonstrate resilience as vessels become increasingly digital and connected.What is currently the biggest regulatory or safety barrier to largescale autonomous and remotely operated vessels?The single largest barrier is that the global regulatory framework was built around crewed ships and is still being adapted for autonomous and remotely operated operations. Most of today%u2019s rules assume the physical presence of people on board %u2014 a crew who can see, decide, and act in real time. Reinterpreting or revising those requirements for vessels with minimal or zero crew is complex and requires broad consensus among regulators, flag States, and industry stakeholders.Several specific challenges stand out. First, regulations and conventions, from watchkeeping and navigation to emergency response, are written with human presence at the centre. Defining how %u201cequivalent%u201d safety can be achieved when decisions are made by software, remote operators, or a combination of both is not straightforward.Second, authorities will expect robust evidence that autonomous and remotely operated ships can manage both normal operations and credible failures, collision risks, loss of communications, equipment failures, cyber events, or emergency conditions at least as safely as conventional vessels. ABS is addressing these issues through guidance such as the %u201cABS Requirements for Autonomous and Remote Control Functions%u201d and other related documents, which define notations and verification methods for autonomy functions.How is the role of the traditional surveyor changing as classification societies are moving toward digitalisation?The role of the surveyor is not being replaced by digitalisation; it is being enhanced. Digital tools give ABS surveyors greater insight, better preparation, and safer methods, so they can apply their technical judgment more precisely to each individual asset.Historically, class requirements evolved from broad rules applicable to all ships to approaches that took into consideration a vessel%u2019s age and type. In the digital era, the shift is toward an asset-specific view, i.e., using data to understand the unique design, operating profile, and condition of each vessel.What remains unchanged is the essence of the ABS surveyor%u2019s mission: to apply independent technical judgment in the interest of safety, property, and the environment. Digital tools and ABS%u2019s expanding body of rules, guides, and technical publications simply provide more information and improved methods to uphold that mission in a rapidly changing industry.Smart shipping198 NX