Challenges and Developments in the Public Administration of Autonomous Shipping

Abstract

This article examines the main trends that exist in the introduction of autonomous shipping within Maritime Industry 4.0, and it evaluates its positive and negative factors. It is noted that the human element will impact shipping in this new model as before, although this impact will change and be transferred to other levels. The legal uncertainties that exist in autonomous shipping are considered herein, and the ways in which these can be eliminated are outlined while taking into account the anthropocentricity of existing international legal instruments for maritime activities, the widespread introduction of digitalization, and the automation of management and communication processes. The international efforts to develop legal standards and administration practices for Marine Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) reveal a commitment to classical approaches to which new practices are gradually introduced in the development of management systems. This article pays special attention to the changes that have occurred in the public administration of MASS in order to develop a practical approach that is capable of quickly responding to new challenges and threats.