The legal ramifications for security of autonomous ships

Abstract

Maritime history spans across millennia, and a consistent aspect over this period is the presence of a human element. This assurance has been disrupted by the emergence of autonomous ships. This dissertation examines the International Maritime Organization’s efforts to provide a regulatory framework for autonomous shipping. It subsequently explores the use of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships on the application of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Furthermore, it examines the legal ramifications of employing autonomous vessels for maritime security, in particular, regarding the effectiveness of the existing international maritime security law framework for preventing and combating crimes at sea, such as piracy, unlawful threats to the safety and security of navigation, and cybersecurity. An important conclusion that can be drawn from this dissertation is the urgent requirement for a legal framework that addresses the specific challenges related to autonomous ships, particularly those concerning the security of such ships.