Towards the Autonomous Ship. Operational, Regulatory, Quality Challenges and other Maritime Transportation Issues.
Abstract
Towards the Autonomous Ship is a study of existing relevant projects and an identification of the related Operational, Regulatory and Qualityassurance challenges raised due to the development and actual deployment of such vessels in the near future; a number of possible solutions andapproaches to overcome the identified challenges and conclusions whichmay be used not only in the Autonomous Ships, but also in traditionallymanned vessels. Additional maritime transportation related issues areincluded such as Breach of Warranties (Ch2), Deviation (Ch3), ArrivedShip (Ch4), Bill of Lading (Ch5), Salvage, Towage (Ch6) and Major Tanker Accidents (Ch7).
The MUNIN project is doing a feasibility study on an unmanned bulk carrier on an intercontinental voyage. To develop the technical and operational concepts, MUNIN has used a risk-based design method, based on the Formal Safety Analysis method which is also recommended by the International Mari-time Organization. Scenario analysis has been used to identify risks and to simplify operational scope. Systematic hazard identification has been used to find critical safety and security risks and how to address these. Technology and operational concept testing is using a hypothesis-based test method, where the hypotheses have been created as a result of the risk assessment. Finally, the cost-benefit assessment will also use results from the risk assessment. This paper describes the risk assessment method, some of the most important results and also describes how the results have been or will be used in the different parts of the project.
This project was aimed at identifying strategies for improving current U. S. Coast Guard (USCG) procedures for investigating, reporting, and analyzing fatigue contributions to marine casualties. The focus was on evaluating the contribution of fatigue in vessel and personnel injury casualties. A total of 397 casualties were investigated. Fatigue contributed to 16 percent of the critical vessel casualties and 33 percent of the personnel injury casualties. These estimates were substantially greater than the ones currently available from the USCG Marine Investigations Module (MINMOD) database. Analyses identified three potential indicators of fatigue: (1) the number of fatigue symptoms reported by mariners, (2) the number of hours worked in the 24 hours prior to a casualty; and (3) the number of hours slept in those 24 hours. This study demonstrated the feasibility of using simple procedures to obtain meaningful data on the contribution of fatigue in transportation accidents.
The state of technology is such that unmanned ships are now a realistic
prospect. This includes remote-controlled ships and fully autonomous ships.
The operation of each presents unique challenges to regulators and other users
of the sea. This article considers the ways in which unmanned ships may be
integrated within the existing maritime regulatory framework and assesses
the ability of such ships and their operators to comply with its requirements.
The article argues that, because the onboard presence of seafarers is not an
express prerequisite to “ship” status, under the various available defi nitions
of the term, unmanned “ships” could be accommodated within the existing
legal framework with small modifi cations. It argues that the level of autonomy
of an unmanned ship has a profound bearing on its ability to comply with the
requirements of this framework and that regulatory guidance on safe unmanned
operations and the development of international consensus is essential in order
to facilitate the use of the technology in world trade. To the extent that the
new technology is commercially beneficial, its use will prevail and either a
regulatory regime will need to be developed or the existing one will need to
be adjusted. Within this context it is suggested that the main existing legal
framework can be interpreted in a way that permits the inclusion of ships into
the existing framework and that this is the easier way forward.
In the previous edition of this special series on robotics and law, we explored some of the legal, regulatory and ethical implications of robotic systems and applications. We continue on that theme in this edition, focusing on specific types of robotic systems (medical device robots and nanorobotics) and core legal and regulatory issues, including intellectual property, employment and cyber security. In exploring these areas, our objective remains to start a dialogue about how our existing legal frameworks might need to adapt and change to meet the demands of the robotics age. We then conclude this special series with our views on the future of robotics law and the development of legal practice in this area.
This book expertly introduces and clearly explains all topics covered in marine insurance law courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, offering students and those new to the area a comprehensive and accessible overview of this important topic in commercial law. Beginning by introducing the general principles of the subject, the structure and formation of insurance contracts, Marine Insurance Law then looks to individual considerations in detail, including: brokers, losses, risks and perils, sue and labour, reinsurance, and mutual insurance/P&I clubs. This title has been developed with the needs of courses specifically in mind, and its content has been tailored to include the most important and commonly taught topics in the field. Each chapter contains end of chapter further reading to support student research, ensuring this new textbook provides a reliable and accessible gateway into this important topic in maritime law.
The authors have approached their subject from the standpoint of observers of the whole process of contemporary international relations practice rather than theory. They have set their whole subject in a historical background. They have observed and taken into consideration the contemporary phenomenon in which the agents in any set of international political processes include a whole series of agents undreamt of in standard international relations theory, ranging from international political organizations to non-governmental organizations, ranging from national interest groups through multinational industrial, commercial and financial, corporations to transnational organizations representing these industrial, commercial or financial interests. They have recognized too that in most cases the individual states are far from the unitary actors they are represented as being, usually thought of and, via their public relations and policy spokesmen, would have the rest of the world believe them to be. The argument that these two authors put forward is subtle and grounded on a great deal of original research. They point out how government standpoints on general issues can change drastically with changing estimates of their own short-term interests as they perceive them and as they are impressed on them by interests and interest groups to whose pressures and arguments they are at different times either vulnerable or sympathetic.
A pre-analysis on Autonomous Ships" the Technical
- M Blanke
- M Henriques
- J Bang
Blanke M, Henriques M, Bang J, (2016) "A pre-analysis on
Autonomous Ships" the Technical University of Denmark
(DTU).
The Human Element in Shipping Casualties
- D T Bryant
Bryant D.T. (1991) The Human Element in Shipping
Casualties. Report prepared for the Dept. of Transport,
Marine Directorate, United Kingdom.
COLREG (1972), Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, IMO. Chris Holder, Vikram Khurana
- H-C Burmeistera
- W Bruhna
Burmeistera H-C, Bruhna W. et al. (2014), "Can unmanned
ships improve navigational safety?", (Accessed May 2017)
http://publications.lib.chalmers.se/records/fulltext/198207/lo
cal_198207.pdf Transport Research Arena 2014, Paris.
COLREG (1972), Convention on the International
Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, IMO.
Chris Holder, Vikram Khurana, Faye Harrison, Louisa
Jacobs (2016), Robotics and law: Key legal and regulatory
implications of the robotics age (Part I of II) Computer Law
& Security Review 32 pp383-402.
Rolls-Royce remote-controlled cargo ship as 'future of the maritime industry
- A David
- Mindell
David A Mindell (2015) Our robots ourselves, robotics and
the myths of autonomy, New York: Penguin Random House.
Dezeen Limited. (2016). Rolls-Royce remote-controlled
cargo ship as 'future of the maritime industry'. Retrieved May
2, 2017, from https://www.dezeen.com/2016/06/29/rollshttps://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Edw7/6/41/contents
(Accessed November 2017).
Existing conventions and unmanned ships -need for changes
- Noma Tomotsugu
Noma Tomotsugu, (2016) "Existing conventions and
unmanned ships -need for changes?" World Maritime
University Dissertation 527.
http://commons.wmu.se/all_dissertations/527
(Accessed
October 2017).
MUNIN Deliverable D 6.7: Maintenance indicators and maintenance management principles for autonomous engine room
- H Rødseth
- Brage Mo
Rødseth H., Brage Mo B. (2014), "MUNIN Deliverable D
6.7: Maintenance indicators and maintenance management
principles for autonomous engine room".
Achieving Sustainable Development and Promoting Development Cooperation
- A Rothblum
Rothblum A, (2000), "Human Error and Marine Safety",
U.S. Coast Guard Research & Development Center.
(Accessed September 2017) http://bowles-langley.com/wpcontent/files_mf/humanerrorandmarinesafety26.pdf
United Nations, (2008), "Achieving Sustainable
Development and Promoting Development Cooperation",
NY, New York. Retrieved from
http://www.un.org/en/ecosoc/docs/pdfs/fina_08-45773.pdf
(Accessed May 2017)
Breach of Warranties in a Marine Insurance Contract Under the prism of the Insurance Act
- Zakirul Bhuiyan
Zakirul Bhuiyan (2016), Article on BDMariners found at
http://bdmariners.org/bmcs-magazine-2016-autonomousships-and-the-future-zakirul-bhuiyan-23/#sthash.U5CVsEIB.dpbs (Accessed May 2017).
Breach of Warranties in a Marine
Insurance Contract
Under the prism of the Insurance Act 2015 and the
JH2016/009 Endorsement
References
De Hahn v Hartley [1786] 1 Term Rep 343 (1786).
Explanatory notes of the Insurance Act 2015,
legislation.gov.uk.
Vancouver: Association of Marine Underwriters of British Columbia
- C J Giaschi
Giaschi, C. J., (1997). WARRANTIES IN MARINE
INSURANCE, Vancouver: Association of Marine
Underwriters of British Columbia.
UCLJLJ, 239.) Marine Insurance Act 21 December 1906, C.41 (Regnal. 6_Edw_7), legislation.gov.uk Marine Insurance Act 12 February 2015, C 4, legislation.gov.uk "Review of the Marine Insurance Act
- P Eggers
Eggers, P. M, (2012) "The past and future of English
insurance law: good faith and warranties", UCLJLJ, 239.)
Marine Insurance Act 21 December 1906, C.41 (Regnal.
6_Edw_7), legislation.gov.uk
Marine Insurance Act 12 February 2015, C 4,
legislation.gov.uk
"Review of the Marine Insurance Act 1909", ALRC Report
91 (2001), ss 9.23-9.37
Insurance Contract Law Issues Paper 2 Warranties
- Scottish Law
- Law Commissions
Law and Scottish Law Commissions, 2006. Insurance
Contract Law Issues Paper 2 Warranties. Available at:
http://www.lawcom.gov.uk/wpcontent/uploads/2015/06/ICL2_Warranties.pdf
[Accessed 24 March 2017].
Wrongful Arrest of Ships: A Case for Reform
- I Carr
- P Stone
Carr I., Stone P. (2014), "International Trade Law", 5 th
edition, Routledge
Mandaraka Sheppard A. (2013), "Wrongful Arrest of
Ships: A Case for Reform", JIML
Glynn v Margetson 1893 AC351
The Meaning of a Good Safe Port and Berth in a Modern Shipping World
- A Kharchanka
Kharchanka A, (2014), "The Meaning of a Good Safe Port
and Berth in a Modern Shipping World", Ridderprint OBV,
Ridderkerk, The Netherlands, ISSN 1574-9096 p.85
Lloyds Rep 285 H.L. The Maratha Envoy [1977] 2 Lloyds Rep 301
- Johanna The
- Oldendorff
The Johanna Oldendorff [1973] 2 Lloyds Rep 285 H.L.
The Maratha Envoy [1977] 2 Lloyds Rep 301 H.L
https://www.i-law.com/ilaw/doc/view.htm?id=143468
(accessed April 2017)
http://citations.duhaime.org (accessed April 2017)
The IMLI Manual on International Maritime Law
- D Attard
Attard D. (2016), "The IMLI Manual on International
Maritime Law", Oxford
Hill C. (1998), "Maritime Law", London Hong Kong, LPP
Mandaraka Sheppard A., (2013), "Wrongful Arrest of
Ships: A Case for Reform", JIML
Brice on Maritime Law of Salvage
- J Reeder
Reeder J., (2011) "Brice on Maritime Law of Salvage",
Sweet & Maxwell, London
7
Diagram 1. Oil Spills vs
Diagram 1. Oil Spills vs. Oil Trade
Source ITOPF (http://www.itopf.com/knowledgeresources/data-statistics/statistics/ (Accessed 20-09-2017)
50% of major spills occurred in open waters while the vessels were underway. Collisions and groundings accounted for 59% of these spills
- Itopf Source
Source
ITOPF
(http://www.itopf.com/knowledgeresources/data-statistics/statistics/
From 1970 to 2015, 50% of major spills occurred in open
waters while the vessels were underway. Collisions and
groundings accounted for 59% of these spills.
References
Alexopoulos A, (2014), Lecture Notes on Marine
Environmental Regulations, BCA.
Safety at Sea. Policies, Regulations & International Law
- P Boisson
Boisson P, (1992), Safety at Sea. Policies, Regulations &
International Law, Bureau Veritas.
The Strange History of Tank Inerting, Canter for Tankship Excellence
- J Devanney
Devanney J, The Strange History of Tank Inerting, Canter for
Tankship Excellence, USA.
Dictionary of Disasters at Sea during the Age of Steam: including Sailing Ships and Ships of War Lost in Action
- C Hocking
Hocking C, (1969), Dictionary of Disasters at Sea during the
Age of Steam: including Sailing Ships and Ships of War Lost
in Action, 1824-1962, LLP.
Proceedings of the Exxon Valdez oil spill symposium
- S Rice
- R Spies
- D Wolfe
- B Wright
Rice S, Spies R, Wolfe D and Wright B (1996), Proceedings
of the Exxon Valdez oil spill symposium. American Fisheries
Society, Bethesda, Maryland, USA