Designing Norms for Autonomous Ships: The Obligation to Call for Help and the Duty to Save Life in Danger at Sea

Mikis Tsimplis*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary WorksRGC 12 - Chapter in an edited book (Author)peer-review

Abstract

The development of autonomous and remotely controlled ships must serve the prevailing norm for safety at sea. Two legal norms deriving from this requirement are discussed. The first concerns the arguable obligation a carrier has to call for salvage assistance when the ship is in distress. New ship designs should satisfy this norm; otherwise, their commercial utility will be limited. The second legal norm concerns the contribution of merchant ships to search and rescue operations and the safety of life at sea. The duty of the master to assist other ships where life is at risk or in collision cases is argued as a way through which states discharge their responsibility to render assistance. The policy objective is to ensure the ship is available to stranded people as a refuge platform. For a ship without a master, it would be necessary to modify this legal duty, possibly by imposing this duty on the owner and/or the controller of the autonomous ship. Clarifying how the duty to render assistance will be discharged by autonomous ships is essential to facilitate the development of appropriate capabilities. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAutonomous Vessel in Maritime Affairs
Subtitle of host publicationLaw and Governance Implications
EditorsTafsir Matin Johansson, Jonatan Echebarria Fernández, Dimitrios Dalaklis, Aspasia Pastra, Jon A. Skinner
Place of PublicationCham
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan
Chapter6
Pages99-118
Number of pages20
ISBN (Electronic)978-3-031-24740-8
ISBN (Print)978-3-031-24739-2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Publication series

NameStudies in National Governance and Emerging Technologies
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan
ISSN (Print)2524-6291
ISSN (Electronic)2524-6305

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