engleski

Autonomous ships and legal aspects of autonomous shipping business

Topic under investigation is modernization and revolutionization of “modern” shipping business. In my opinion, this is the only revolutionary and big move related to the shipping industry in the last several decades. Although there are already some theories, real life sea trials and autonomous surveys, for the moment the technology and legal framework are not yet so developed to have fully automated large cargo and passenger ships. In my opinion, full automation will not happen so soon but in the near future this technology will change the shipping business forever, as it has already changed the shore based transport. We have seen successful examples of automated subway trains, self-driving intralogistics vehicles and even automated container terminals. Automated ships can be divided in two main categories, remote- controlled ships and autonomous ships. In this research I will not be focused on the technical side of the problem ( how the ship navigates, how it is being constructed, etc.) ; instead I will be mainly focused on the legal aspects of this profession such as the ship master’s responsibility, P&I clubs, insurance & claims, international rules and regulations, etc. Big problems from the legal point of view are what will happen with the master's authority and responsibility? Who is the master of an autonomous ship? How will autonomous vessels abide by COLREG regulations (Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972)? Who will be responsible for cargo operations during the port stay and ship’s stability during the cargo operations and navigation? How to deal with other various legal challenges? Other problems and benefits which will be discussed are how autonomous ships could make the maritime business safer, how they can be more economical for the shipowners and how it will affect the social status of seafarers, their families and all those facilities that depend on seafarers. For example, Maritime schools, universities, training centers, crewing agencies, etc.

autonomous ships ; autonomus shipping

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