Ebook: Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Shipping: Developing the International Legal Framework

This collection of essays critically evaluates the legal framework necessary for the use of autonomous ships in international waters. The work is divided into three parts:
Part 1 evaluates how far national shipping regulation, and the public international law background that lies behind it, may need modification and updating to accommodate the use of autonomous ships on international voyages.
Part 2 evaluates the new legal challenges that autonomous shipping will introduce and the possible need for changes in the insurance market in terms of providing cover for such vessels.
Part 3 analyses international convention regimes dealing with maritime safety and other matters, arguing for specific changes in the existing conventions, such as SOLAS and MARPOL, which would provide the international framework that is necessary for putting autonomous ships into commercial use.
The book also takes the view that amendment of international conventions is important in the case of liability issues, arguing that leaving such matters to national law, particularly issues concerning product liability, could not only restrict or hinder the availability of liability insurance but also hamper the development of technology in this field.
Written by internationally recognised experts in their respective areas, the book offers a holistic approach to the debate on autonomous ships and makes a timely and important contribution to the literature.