Regulating Autonomous Vessels

International, Regional, and European Regulation of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships
Erscheinungsjahr 2025
ISBN: 978-90-04-72947-6
Verlag: Brill

Buch, Englisch, Band 103, 348 Seiten, Format (B × H): 155 mm x 235 mm

Reihe: Publications on Ocean Development

This book adds to the legal research on autonomous vessels and proposes a combined international-supranational regulation concept, introducing the reader to the most urgent international legal aspects with respect to autonomous ships. The future legal framework must be technology-neutral and reliable, and it has to be in place as soon as possible to integrate autonomous ships into the existing international legal framework. The book provides the reader with a comprehensive and innovative comparison of different regulatory approaches, including regional and European instruments. The effect of non-binding instruments is analyzed based on rational choice theory.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Lange, Eva Ricarda

Fachgebiete

• Rechtswissenschaften Internationales Recht und Europarecht Internationales Recht Internationales See-, Luft- und Weltraumrecht

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Foreword

List of Abbreviations

1 Introduction

1. 1 Aim and Objectives

1. 2 Scope and Outline

2 Autonomous Shipping Technology

2. 1 Maritime Autonomy as a Concept

2. 1.1 Autonomy and Automation

2. 1.2 Vessel Operation without Human Presence on Board

2. 1.3 Autonomy and Manning

2. 1.4 Degrees of Autonomy

2. 1.5 Conclusions

2. 2 Technical Development and Research Projects

2. 3 Economic, Safety, Security, and Environmental Aspects

2. 3.1 Economic Aspects

2. 3.2 Safety and Security Aspects

2. 3.3 Environmental Aspects

2. 3.4 Conclusions

3 International Regulatory Framework for Commercial Shipping

3. 1 The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

3. 1.1 Flag State Jurisdiction

3. 1.2 The Zonal Approach

3. 1.3 Coastal State Jurisdiction

3. 2 Port State Jurisdiction

3. 2.1 Access to Ports

3. 2.2 Port State Control

3. 2.3 Conclusions

3. 3 The imo and unclos

3. 3.1 The Competent International Organization

3. 3.2 Generally Accepted International Rules and Standards

3. 3.3 High-Priority Instruments for mass

3. 3.4 Conclusions

3. 4 The International Maritime Organization

3. 4.1 Structure

3. 4.2 Law-Making and Implementation Activities

3. 5 Conclusions

4 mass and the International Legal Framework

4. 1 Principle of Mutual Recognition

4. 2 Interpretation of International Law

4. 3 The Regulatory Scoping Exercise of the imo

4. 4 Legal Gaps for mass in the Current Legal Framework

4. 4.1 Flag State Registration and Genuine Link

4. 4.2 Safety at Sea

4. 4.3 Search and Rescue

4. 4.4 Conclusions

4. 5 National Regulatory Activities on mass

4. 5.1 Finland

4. 5.2 Norway

4. 5.3 United Kingdom

4. 5.4 France

4. 6 Conclusions

5 Means to Adapt the Legal Framework to mass

5. 1 Requirements and Recommendations for mass Regulation

5. 2 Law and Regulation

5. 2.1 Soft Law

5. 2.2 Rational Choice Theory

5. 2.3 Conclusions

5. 3 Regulation at the International Level

5. 3.1 Non-binding Instruments of the imo

5. 3.2 Amendments to the International Legal Framework

5. 3.3 A New mass Convention

5. 3.4 Decision of a Conference of the State Parties

5. 3.5 Generally Accepted International Rules and Standards

5. 3.6 Customary International Law and Subsequent State Practice

5. 3.7 Conclusions

5. 4 Regulation at the Regional Level

5. 4.1 Regional Cooperation

4.2 Maritime Cooperation in Northern and Western Europe

5. 4.3 Admissibility of an Inter-se Agreement

5. 4.4 A Regional mass Convention

5. 4.5 Conclusions

5. 5 Regulation at the Supranational Level

5. 5.1 EU Competence and Available Instruments

5. 5.2 Self-standing Act

5. 5.3 Implementing Act

5. 5.4 Conclusions

Conclusions and Outlook

References

Table of Cases

International Court of Justice

Court of Justice of the European Union

Other Court Cases

IMO Documents

Council of the International Maritime Organization

Maritime Safety Committee

Marine Environmental Protection Committee

Facilitation Committee

Legal Committee

Intersessional Working Group on MASS

Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization

Internationl Conventions and Statutory Instruments

International Conventions

EU Statutory Instruments

EEA Joint Committee

Other Statutory Instruments

Index

Über Autor(innen)

Eva Ricarda Lange, Dr. iur. (2024), University of Bremen, is a German legal scholar focusing on the law of the sea and international shipping law. She has studied law in Berlin, Stockholm and Oslo.