Main Article Content

Authors

Vasilii N. GUTSULIAK *

Abstract

The article examines the legal problems associated with the emergence and rapid development of the maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS). Unlike traditional shipping, the MASS operation has its own characteristics that require an appropriate legal regime. The author explores the reasons for the widespread use of the MASS, as well as the role and significance of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in the formation of a new legal regime for the MASS. An analysis of a number of relevant IMO documents, as well as Russian legislation, is provided. The article concludes with the main outputs.

Keywords:
international, maritime law, maritime autonomous surface ships, MASS

Article Details

References

[1]Negenborn, R. R., Goerlandt, F., Johansen, T. A., Slaets, P., Valdez Banda, O., Vanelslander, T., & Ventikos, N. P. (2023). Autonomous ships are on the horizon: Here’s what we need to know. Nature, 615(7950), 30–33. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-00557-5

[2]Guerra, S. (2017). Ready About, Here Comes AI: Potential maritime law challenges for autonomous shipping. University of San Francisco Maritime Law Journal, 30.

[3]Rolls-Royce Marine. (2021). Autonomous ships: The next step [White paper]. https://www.rolls-royce.com/~/media/Files/R/Rolls-Royce/documents/customers/marine/ship-intel/rr-ship-intel-aawa-8pg.pdf

[4]Corbert, A. (2021, July 30). ICS warns trained officer crisis could become unmanageable. TradeWinds..

[5]International Chamber of Shipping. (2016, May 17). BIMCO/ICS manpower report predicts potential shortage of almost 150,000 officers by 2025. https://www.ics-shipping.org/press-release/bimco-ics-manpower-report-predicts-potential-shortage-of-almost-150000-officers-by-2025-bimco-ics-manpower-report-predicts-potential-shortage-of-almost-150000-officers-by-2025/

[6]International Chamber of Shipping. (n.d.). Shipping and world trade: Global supply and demand for seafarers. https://www.ics-shipping.org/shipping-fact/shipping-and-world-trade-global-supply-and-demand-for-seafarers/

[7]International Maritime Organization. (n.d.). Marine environment. https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Environment/Pages/Default.aspx

[8]Wärtsilä Voyage. (2021). The future of smart autonomy is here [White paper]. https://www.wartsila.com/docs/default-source/whitepapers/smart_autonomy_e-report_2021-final.pdf

[9]Wall, R., & Paris, C. (2016, August 31). Ship operators explore autonomous sailing. The Wall Street Journal.

[10]Dixon, G. (2021, November 22). World’s first autonomous electric containership makes maiden voyage. TradeWinds. https://www.tradewindsnews.com/containerships/worlds-first-autonomous-electric-containership-makes-maiden-voyage/2-1-1101809

[11]The Maritime Executive. (2021, October 29). Autonomous boats for passengers and logistics on Amsterdam’s canals. The Maritime Executive. https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/autonomous-boats-for-passengers-and-logistics-on-amsterdam-s-canals

[12]The Maritime Executive. (2021, October 7). Sea Machines brings mariners’ union aboard for autonomous voyage. The Maritime Executive. https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/sea-machines-diffuses-union-tensions-on-autonomous-voyage

[13]The Maritime Executive. (2021, June 15). Autonomous research boat gets under way for transatlantic voyage. The Maritime Executive. https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/autonomous-research-boat-gets-under-way-for-transatlantic-voyage

[14]The Maritime Executive. (2021, October 7). Russia launches research ship with unmanned navigation capabilities. The Maritime Executive. https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/russia-launches-research-ship-with-unmanned-navigation-capabilities

[15]Vallejo, D. A. G. (2015). Electric currents: Programming legal status into autonomous unmanned maritime vehicles. Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law, 47(1).

[16]Sánchez-Beaskoetxea, J., Basterretxea-Iribar, I., Sotés, I., & Maruri Machado, M. de las M. (2021). Human error in marine accidents: Is the crew normally to blame? Maritime Transport Research, 2, Article 100016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.martra.2021.100016

[17]Coito, J. (2021). Maritime autonomous surface ships: New possibilities—and challenges—in ocean law and policy. International Law Studies, 97, 259–306.

[18]Schmitt, M. N., & Goddard, D. S. (2016). International law and the military use of unmanned maritime systems. International Review of the Red Cross, 98(2), 567–592. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1816383117000339

Similar Articles

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.