MARITIME AUTONOMOUS SURFACE SHIPS AS A NEW CHALLENGE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL MARITIME LAW

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) as a new challenge for the development of international maritime law in the context of digitalization and the implementation of artificial intelligence technologies. The prerequisites for the emergence and active implementation of MASS in the field of international maritime transport, as well as their potential economic and operational advantages, are analyzed. It is established that the automation of shipping is accompanied by significant transformations of traditional legal approaches, particularly regarding the role of the crew, maritime safety requirements, and vessel management functions. Special attention is paid to the activities of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in the development of a regulatory framework for MASS, including the Regulatory Scoping Exercise and the development of the MASS Code. The classification of levels of vessel autonomy and their impact on the formation of the legal regime of operation is examined.

Key legal challenges in the regulation of autonomous shipping are identified, including the uncertainty of the legal status of the crew and the remote operator, the absence of clear rules on liability for the actions of autonomous systems, and the need to adapt international conventions to new realities. Attention is also given to cybersecurity issues, as autonomous vessels become complex cyber-physical systems vulnerable to cyber threats.

It is substantiated that the implementation of autonomous shipping requires a comprehensive revision of international legal norms, the development of new approaches to the allocation of liability among operational actors, and the creation of a unified international regulatory regime. It is concluded that harmonization at the global level is necessary to ensure maritime safety, environmental protection, and the efficient functioning of international maritime transport.


References

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