TOWARDS AUTONOMOUS SHIPS - FLAG STATE INVOLVEMENT AND REGULATORY ASPECTS

摘要

IMO interim guidelines for MASS trials - MSC. 1/Circ. 1604 - makes it clear that Flag States have prime responsibility for the safe operation of MASS (Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships) Jurisdiction of vessels is determined by the UN convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS). The four main pillars of Maritime Regulation are considered to be; SOLAS; MARPOL; STCW; MLC. With the other most relevant conventions being; ILL; COLREG; BWM. As well as the Liability and Compensation Conventions especially CLC, Bunker Oil, PAL and LLMC. Search and Rescue also needs to be considered. There already exists provision for Alternative Design, Exemptions and equivalences in various conventions. The latest version of the Large Yacht Code - The Red Ensign Group Yacht Code introduced last year has developed further these concepts for Large Yachts. Smaller vessels (especially under 24m L) are regulated to a lesser extent, although codes, such as the Caribbean Small Commercial Vessel Code, are intended to provide standards for internationally trading small vessels and already mention some of the considerations for MASS. Finally, the paper will look in more detail at, some of the issues related to navigation and moving towards conditionally and periodically unmanned bridges - B0.