SELF-STEERING SHIPS

Özet

Self-steering ship or as it is more popularly called unmanned ship, is a novel conception, rather a revolutionary category of ship. The distinguishing element is that, such ships shall have no crew on board to steer and navigate them, they will operate without a master and crew on board, relying upon computerised systems, but will nevertheless be monitored and controlled from a land based centre. In cases of emergencies or where in accordance with the programming it becomes necessary, the control centre will directly navigate the vessel through remote control systems. The concept relies upon three pivotal components, the principal infrastructure being a supremely sophisticated computer technology: (i) Artificial Intelligence, (ii) High-tech Telecommunication Systems and (iii) Land-based Control Centres. There are quite a number of questions concerning the legal natures of both the selfsteering ship and the control centre and therefore the applicability of the provisions of both the domestic laws and international conventions to them and/or their adaptability to these rules.