Autonomous technology is advancing in every sector and in many
ways the maritime industry may well be viewed by some as being
ahead of the pack. From crewless ships to autonomous loading and
offloading, there has been a steady increase in the use of
autonomous technology on commercial vessels. Like any disruptive
technology, however, autonomous vessels present their fair share of
challenges.
One of the biggest challenges is staying on the right side of
the law. It is unclear how autonomous vessels could comply with
some of the current applicable legislation, particularly that which
goes beyond the safe operation of the vessel. For example, under
the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),
masters of vessels sailing under the flag of signatory states must
assist those in distress at sea. An autonomous vessel may be able
to pilot itself around obstacles, but will it be able to identify
someone in distress? What mechanisms would or should it have
