ZESTAs announces Autonomous Ship Working Group with Dr. Beatriz Canamary at the helm

The Zero Emissions Ship Technology Association (ZESTAs) has established a dedicated Autonomous Ship Working Group to coordinate industry engagement on Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) as the IMO finalises the non-mandatory MASS Code for adoption in May 2026.

Dr. Beatriz Canamary, a maritime executive and strategic advisor with over 20 years of experience in port operations, infrastructure development, and technology commercialization, has been appointed as convener.

"We're entering an era that is autonomous, floating, and spatial—spanning land, sea, and space," said Dr. Canamary. "The question isn't whether this transition happens. It's whether governance infrastructure is in place to support the safe and efficient utilization of this vital advancement.  Autonomous vessel technology is advancing faster than the regulatory architecture required to deploy it at scale. This working group closes that gap—bringing operational reality into the rooms where frameworks are being finalised."

The IMO MASS Code represents the first comprehensive international framework for autonomous vessel operations. With the non-mandatory code targeted for May 2026 adoption and mandatory requirements expected by 2030, the window for industry to shape implementation is now.

The ZESTAs Autonomous Ship Working Group will support member engagement with IMO MSC proceedings, facilitate knowledge sharing on MASS implementation challenges, and develop industry positions on emerging regulatory questions.  It is also anticipated that Dr. Canamary, given her extensive experience with SeaTrain Technology, will be introducing a discussion on autonomous submersible as well as surface ships.

"Autonomous operations and autonomous vessels are essential to the transition to absolute zero emissions in the maritime sector” stated ZESTAs Secretary General, Madadh MacLaine.  “With a strong member base innovating in this space, ZESTAs deeply appreciates Dr. Canamary's motivation to lead this working group, contributing her vast knowledge to expedite the global standards and regulations required for the commercialisation of these innovations."

Dr. Canamary brings operational depth to regulatory engagement. A civil engineer by training with a doctorate in business, she currently serves as COO of Seatrain Technology, where she leads commercialization strategy for autonomous cargo vessel technology, including ABS certification and regulatory pathway development. Her doctorate research examined sustainability innovation adoption across U.S. ports, providing empirical foundation for understanding the structural conditions that determine whether technology transitions achieve commercial scale. She also serves as Chair of the Innovation and Workforce Development Committee at the Floating Economy Institute, and is author of the forthcoming book ‘The Maritime Ports of Tomorrow: Infrastructure, Intelligence, and Strategic Control ‘.

Her career includes executive leadership at a $6.5 billion Brazilian steel and port complex, where she led engineering and strategic projects, and negotiation of a major joint venture with the Port of Rotterdam.

"We're pleased to welcome Dr. Canamary to lead this critical initiative," said Madadh MacLaine, Secretary General of ZESTAs. "Her combination of operational experience, regulatory knowledge, and research background positions her well to guide industry coordination during this pivotal period."