Can a ship be its own captain? Safe manning of autonomous and uncrewed vessels
Barbara Stępień
Abstract
New maritime technologies -autonomous and uncrewed vessels- are already poised to revolutionize the shipping industry. However, they are virtually unregulated under the current maritime laws, which raises significant safety and social impact issues. Can their incorporation into the maritime legal order occur through a policy decision by the international community or are substantial amendments to existing laws or adoption of new international legal instruments necessary? While the possibility of expanding the notions of a master, seafarer, vessel and safe manning requirements under the existing international framework is analyzed, it is concluded that the adoption of a new, specialized autonomous and uncrewed vessels convention or a specialized code designed for those vessels seems a much easier and faster solution.