April 2026: New Standards Shape Marine Structures and Shipbuilding

The shipbuilding and marine structures sector will see a significant shift in 2026, with three freshly published international standards shaping the future of safety, performance, and compliance. Released in April 2026, these standards—ISO 21319:2026, ISO 21321:2026, and IEC 60092-504:2026—redefine technical requirements in submersible toolings, manoeuvrability testing, and shipboard automation and control systems. For marine engineers, quality managers, compliance officers, and other professionals, staying current means not just meeting regulatory demands but ensuring technological leadership and operational excellence.

Overview / Introduction

The marine technology and shipbuilding industry operates at the forefront of innovation, requiring robust standards to ensure safety, efficiency, and interoperability. International standards define the benchmarks for performance and compliance—from submersible toolings that enable deep-sea missions, to the precise manoeuvrability of human-occupied submersibles, to the automation and control of entire vessel systems. This article delves into the three new standards published in April 2026, outlining their scope, key requirements, and the broader impact on industry stakeholders.

By the end of this article, you will:

• Understand the new technical requirements for submersible toolings (ISO 21319:2026)
• Grasp the methodology and benchmarks for submersible manoeuvring tests (ISO 21321:2026)
• Learn how updates to electrical, automation, and control systems (IEC 60092-504:2026) influence ship operations
• Gain insights into compliance, implementation best practices, and industry impacts

Detailed Standards Coverage

ISO 21319:2026 - Marine Technology — Toolings for Submersibles — Technology Requirements

Marine technology — Toolings for submersibles — Technology requirements

ISO 21319:2026 introduces unified technical requirements for all toolings used with submersibles, including devices for underwater sampling, rescue, scientific experiments, and special operations. The standard applies to the design, manufacturing, inspection, and post-acceptance phases of tooling development.

Scope and Key Requirements:

• Classification: Establishes types of toolings, including general manipulators, manipulator-held toolings, portable operating toolings, and tooling deployment units.
• General Requirements: Addresses installation (location, maintenance access, corrosion mitigation), interface compatibility (electrical, hydraulic, and communication), vibration isolation, and anti-loosening measures for fasteners.
• Design Specifications: Covers design for pressure boundaries, internal and external pressures, oil-filled compensation structures, and seal integrity.
• Functional Requirements: Specifies performance for manipulators and deployment systems.
• Testing and Inspection: Mandates hydrostatic pressure testing, functional testing, operational testing, equipment validation, and result evaluation methodologies.

Target Audiences: Submersible manufacturers, suppliers of marine toolings, marine research organizations, engineering firms, and operators of both human-occupied and remotely operated submersibles.

Implementation Implications: Ensures global uniformity in tooling design and performance, improving interoperability, maintainability, and safety of underwater systems. Compliance with ISO 21319:2026 streamlines procurement and supports smoother certification processes.

Key highlights:

• Standardized installation and interface requirements for all tooling types
• Comprehensive design and testing requirements, including hydrostatic and operational tests
• Mandates corrosion mitigation and vibration isolation for improved durability

Access the full standard:View ISO 21319:2026 on iTeh Standards

ISO 21321:2026 - Ships and Marine Technology — Human-Occupied Submersibles — Manoeuvring Tests

Ships and marine technology — Human-occupied submersibles — Manoeuvring tests

ISO 21321:2026 delivers the first comprehensive international protocol for evaluating the manoeuvrability of human-occupied submersibles. It standardizes test types, procedures, and safety conditions, addressing the entire spectrum of marine environments—from oceans to lakes and pools.

Scope and Key Requirements:

• General Requirements: Stipulates the necessity for support vessels, valid and appropriately installed test instruments (Doppler velocity logs, depth gauges, altimeters, motion sensors, CTD sensors, and positioning systems), and environmental safeguards during testing.
• Test Protocol: Outlines 11 core test types, including physical buoyancy, powered submerging and surfacing, unpowered surfacing with releasable ballast, auto-depth and auto-heading stability, triple-direction speed, stopping distance, turning, auto-altitude, and hovering capability.
• Methodology: For each test, requirements are given for test purposes, procedures, measuring parameters, and criteria for acceptable results. Recordkeeping formats and data verification steps are included for traceability.
• Applicability: Intended for all human-occupied submersibles in marine and inland environments. The standard also provides a reference for unmanned and unconventional types in other conditions.

Target Audiences: Shipyards, naval architects, designers and manufacturers of submersibles, marine testing laboratories, classification societies, and research organizations.

Implementation Implications: Incorporates global best practices in verification of submersible safety and performance. Promotes comparability, transparency, and traceability of test results, supporting design optimization, regulatory approval, and safe operations.

Key highlights:

• Standardizes 11 critical manoeuvring tests for submersibles
• Defines performance measurements and recordkeeping protocols
• Supports design, certification, and operator safety decisions

Access the full standard:View ISO 21321:2026 on iTeh Standards

IEC 60092-504:2026 - Electrical Installations in Ships – Automation, Control and Instrumentation

Electrical installations in ships - Part 504: Automation, control and instrumentation

As electrical, electronic, and programmable systems become ever more essential aboard vessels, IEC 60092-504:2026 establishes the international requirements for automation, control, monitoring, alert, safety, and protection systems in marine environments. Representing a major technical revision, this fifth edition aligns maritime electrical systems with the latest industry and technology advances.

Scope and Key Requirements:

• Coverage: Applies to automation, control, and instrumentation supporting vital ship services—monitoring, alarms, emergency response, safety, and power management.
• Key Updates:
  • Realigned bridge and machinery alert references for consistency.
  • Transitioned EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) items to IEC 60533.
  • Modernized power management system (PMS) and energy management system (EMS) requirements, emphasizing digital integration and redundancy.
• General Requirements: Prioritizes safety, integration, segregation, cybersecurity (including IoT considerations), usability, and system development processes.
• Alert and Emergency Systems: Extensive requirements on alerts, including presentation, circuits, sound, emergency alarms, cabling, modification protection, and additional requirements for passenger ships.
• Design and Construction: Details for environmental resilience, electrical subdivision, cooling, non-interchangeability, labelling, and accessibility.
• Installation, Testing, and Documentation: Prescribes comprehensive installation protocols, operational and system testing, commissioning, and detailed documentation for audit and regulatory compliance.
• Computer-Based Systems: Dedicated section, with focus on software configuration, data integrity, hardware/software interfaces, user access, and remote maintenance.

Target Audiences: Shipbuilders, electrical/electronic system manufacturers, installation contractors, automation engineers, classification societies, and ship operators.

Implementation Implications: Ensures next-generation ship automation complies with evolving safety, reliability, and eco-efficiency standards. Protects vessel operation continuity, facilitates regulatory audits, and drives adoption of digital transformation across shipboard systems.

Key highlights:

• Major technical revision, integrating the latest digital and cybersecure technologies
• Expanded requirements for energy and power management systems
• Harmonization of alert and emergency system protocols for safety and compliance

Access the full standard:View IEC 60092-504:2026 on iTeh Standards

Industry Impact & Compliance

The new April 2026 standards deliver far-reaching implications for marine and shipbuilding businesses:

• Enhanced Safety and Reliability: Unified global requirements boost operational safety, particularly for submersible and automation applications.
• Streamlined Procurement and Design: Standardization promotes interoperability, making procurement and integration faster and more reliable.
• Facilitated Certification: Clear requirements aid in certification from classification societies and regulatory bodies, reducing approval times and costs.
• Timelines for Adoption: Organizations should review compliance gaps immediately and aim for adoption in new projects or scheduled retrofits, as industry regulators and clients are likely to reference these standards in contract requirements from late 2026 onward.
• Mitigating Risks: Non-compliance may expose organizations to operational, legal, financial, and reputational risks—particularly in the event of safety incidents or technical failures.

Business Benefits:

• Reduced technical ambiguity and scope creep in engineering projects
• Better alignment with international technology partners and suppliers
• Future-proofing systems against upcoming maritime regulations and digital trends

Technical Insights

Across these three standards, several technical themes and best practices emerge:

Common Technical Requirements

• Interface Standardization: Whether for toolings or automation, interface compatibility is a recurring theme—enabling modularity, ease of maintenance, and safe operations.
• Comprehensive Testing: Both tooling (ISO 21319) and submersible manoeuvrability (ISO 21321) prioritize thorough, repeatable, and transparent testing regimes. Hydrostatic, operational, and performance-based verification is required.
• Life-Cycle Documentation: Detailed documentation and recordkeeping are paramount. From initial design to post-acceptance validation and system commissioning, traceability supports maintenance, audits, and knowledge transfer.
• Cybersecurity and Modernization: IEC 60092-504:2026 adds new cybersecure protocols and digital integration—recognizing the increased risk of electronic systems and remote connectivity.

Implementation Best Practices

1. Gap Analysis: Compare current processes and designs with new requirements. Document differences and prioritize action plans.
2. Engage Stakeholders Early: Involve engineering, compliance, procurement, and operators from the outset to ensure all requirements are addressed.
3. Testing and Certification: Allocate adequate time for full-scope testing, validations, and third-party certification before commercial operation or project handover.
4. Continuous Training: Develop staff competencies around new testing protocols, installation requirements, and emerging cybersecure systems.

Testing and Certification Considerations

• Test Recordkeeping: Both ISO standards demand precise documentation for each stage of testing. This facilitates regulatory review and supports accident investigation if needed.
• System Integration Testing: IEC 60092-504 calls for exhaustive shipboard system integration tests—including power management, alerts, public address, and computer-based controls.

Conclusion / Next Steps

The April 2026 release of ISO 21319:2026, ISO 21321:2026, and IEC 60092-504:2026 marks a new chapter for shipbuilding and marine technologies. These standards establish global benchmarks for underwater toolings, submersible manoeuvrability, and shipboard automation—ensuring greater safety, reliability, and operational efficiency across the industry.

Key takeaways:

• Early adoption streamlines compliance, project delivery, and risk management
• Interoperability, traceability, and cybersecure systems are now central pillar requirements
• Thorough testing and documentation underpin safe and efficient marine operations

Recommendations:

• Download and review the full text of each new standard
• Conduct internal audits to assess compliance gaps
• Leverage these standards in contract specifications and supplier engagements
• Invest in continuous staff training and technical upgrades

Stay at the forefront of shipbuilding and marine structures by referencing these critical standards on iTeh Standards and subscribing for updates on upcoming releases.