Full steam ahead for unmanned ships?

The industry conversation on the topic of unmanned ships has entered turbulent waters. Its proponents say they can deliver the technology – though the initial project groups are only now investigating the subject in any depth – but doubts have been expressed about the regulatory framework that would permit their use.

The issues are numerous. Are unmanned vessels actually ships? Can they comply with Collision Regulations (COLREGS), let alone SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW or UNCLOS? What is the view of Flag States, class and insurers? Perhaps the route to smart ships of the future is not so smooth after all.

Not so, says Dr Alexandros Ntovas of Queen Mary University of London, Centre for Commercial Law Studies. In fact, he believes there is nothing in existing maritime regulation to prevent the use of unmanned ships with differing level of autonomy today should the technology be judged to be safe and the parties involved agree to its use.

Ntovas says he has had numerous discussions with investors and developers, for whom the ideal scenario is to fit the technology to the existing regulatory framework rather than wait for its revision. On the basis of his position, the way is clear for a shipowner to develop an unmanned vessel and providing he has the approval of Flag State, Class and insurer, offer it in the market.

Unmanned ships are tailor-made for sea and vessel traffic management systems such as ACCSEAS and Mona Lisa, as well as the IMO’s own e-Navigation programme but Ntovas says, the law is not the issue: there are other stakeholders that need to be convinced before the concept really makes waves.

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