Research Article

AUTONOMOUS/UNMANNED MARITIME VEHICLES: AN EVALUATION OF REGULATORY COMPLIANCE IN TERMS OF INTERNATIONAL MARITIME CONVENTIONS AND MARINE ACCIDENTS

Volume: 14 Number: 1 June 2, 2025
EN TR

AUTONOMOUS/UNMANNED MARITIME VEHICLES: AN EVALUATION OF REGULATORY COMPLIANCE IN TERMS OF INTERNATIONAL MARITIME CONVENTIONS AND MARINE ACCIDENTS

Abstract

In recent years, the integration of artificial intelligence and automation systems into the maritime industry has significantly accelerated the development of autonomus/unmanned maritime vehicles, bringing their potential operational advantages to the forefront. However, since the existing international maritime regulations are based on human-centered frameworks, they contain substantial gaps regarding the legal status, liability, safety, and regulatory oversight of autonomous/unmanned ships. This study examines role and status of autonomus/unmanned maritime vehicles within the international maritime conventions, such as UNCLOS, SOLAS, COLREG, MARPOL, STCW, and analyzing liability regimes in terms of marine accidents and evaluating potential elements of regulatory framework required for their effective integration into the existing regulatory system. Furthermore, drawing upon regulatory frameworks established for autonomous land vehicles, this study explores regulatory approaches that could be adapted to the maritime industry and presents some recommendations for the development of a comprehensive international regulatory framework governing autonomus/unmanned maritime vehicles.

Keywords

References

  1. Ahmed, Y. M., Yaakob, O., & Sun, B. K. (2014). Design of a new low-cost ROV vehicle. Jurnal Teknologi (Sciences & Engineering), 69(7), 27-32. https://doi.org/10.11113/jt.v69.3262
  2. Anh, K. V., Mai, T., & Yoon, H. K. (2023). Path planning for automatic berthing using ship-maneuvering simulation-based deep reinforcement learning. Applied Sciences, 13(23), 12731. https://doi.org/10.3390/app132312731
  3. Arslan, K. B. (2018). İnsansız deniz araçlarının hukuki rejimi [The legal regime governing unmanned underwater vehicles]. Lex Imperfecta, 3, 31-34.
  4. Avikus. (2024). Avikus successfully conducts the world’s first transoceanic voyage of a large merchant ship relying on autonomous navigation technologies. Avikus AI. Accessed: 17.02.2025. https://avikus.ai/en-us/press/hd-hyundais-avikus-recognized-for-innovation-at-ces-for-second-consecutive-year-1-0-0-0-1
  5. Baltacı, A. (2019). Nitel araştırma süreci: Nitel bir araştırma nasıl yapılır? [Qualitative research process: How to conduct qualitative research?]. Ahi Evran Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi (AEÜSBED), 5(2), 368-388. https://doi.org/10.31592/aeusbed.598299
  6. Bi, H., Gao, C., & Ma, Y. (2018). Research on the legal status of unmanned surface vehicles. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1069, 012004. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1069/1/012004
  7. Bolat, F., & Koşaner, Ö. (2021). İnsansız gemilerin güncel statüleri [The current status of unmanned ships]. Avrupa Bilim ve Teknoloji Dergisi, 23, 341-358. https://doi.org/10.31590/ejosat.870875
  8. Boviatsis, M., & Vlachos, G. (2022). Sustainable operation of unmanned ships under current international maritime law. Sustainability, 14(12), 7369. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14127369

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Policy and Administration (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

June 2, 2025

Submission Date

March 10, 2025

Acceptance Date

May 30, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 14 Number: 1

APA
Şengül, B., Yılmaz, F., & Sönmez, U. (2025). AUTONOMOUS/UNMANNED MARITIME VEHICLES: AN EVALUATION OF REGULATORY COMPLIANCE IN TERMS OF INTERNATIONAL MARITIME CONVENTIONS AND MARINE ACCIDENTS. Güvenlik Bilimleri Dergisi, 14(1), 27-58. https://doi.org/10.28956/gbd.1655181
AMA
1.Şengül B, Yılmaz F, Sönmez U. AUTONOMOUS/UNMANNED MARITIME VEHICLES: AN EVALUATION OF REGULATORY COMPLIANCE IN TERMS OF INTERNATIONAL MARITIME CONVENTIONS AND MARINE ACCIDENTS. Güvenlik Bilimleri Dergisi. 2025;14(1):27-58. doi:10.28956/gbd.1655181
Chicago
Şengül, Batu, Fatih Yılmaz, and Umut Sönmez. 2025. “AUTONOMOUS/UNMANNED/MARITIME/VEHICLES:/AN/EVALUATION/OF/REGULATORY/COMPLIANCE/IN/TERMS/OF/INTERNATIONAL/MARITIME/CONVENTIONS/AND/MARINE/ACCIDENTS”. Güvenlik Bilimleri Dergisi 14 (1): 27-58. https://doi.org/10.28956/gbd.1655181.
EndNote
Şengül B, Yılmaz F, Sönmez U (June 1, 2025) AUTONOMOUS/UNMANNED MARITIME VEHICLES: AN EVALUATION OF REGULATORY COMPLIANCE IN TERMS OF INTERNATIONAL MARITIME CONVENTIONS AND MARINE ACCIDENTS. Güvenlik Bilimleri Dergisi 14 1 27–58.
IEEE
[1]B. Şengül, F. Yılmaz, and U. Sönmez, “AUTONOMOUS/UNMANNED MARITIME VEHICLES: AN EVALUATION OF REGULATORY COMPLIANCE IN TERMS OF INTERNATIONAL MARITIME CONVENTIONS AND MARINE ACCIDENTS”, Güvenlik Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 27–58, June 2025, doi: 10.28956/gbd.1655181.
ISNAD
Şengül, Batu - Yılmaz, Fatih - Sönmez, Umut. “AUTONOMOUS/UNMANNED/MARITIME/VEHICLES:/AN/EVALUATION/OF/REGULATORY/COMPLIANCE/IN/TERMS/OF/INTERNATIONAL/MARITIME/CONVENTIONS/AND/MARINE/ACCIDENTS”. Güvenlik Bilimleri Dergisi 14/1 (June 1, 2025): 27-58. https://doi.org/10.28956/gbd.1655181.
JAMA
1.Şengül B, Yılmaz F, Sönmez U. AUTONOMOUS/UNMANNED MARITIME VEHICLES: AN EVALUATION OF REGULATORY COMPLIANCE IN TERMS OF INTERNATIONAL MARITIME CONVENTIONS AND MARINE ACCIDENTS. Güvenlik Bilimleri Dergisi. 2025;14:27–58.
MLA
Şengül, Batu, et al. “AUTONOMOUS/UNMANNED/MARITIME/VEHICLES:/AN/EVALUATION/OF/REGULATORY/COMPLIANCE/IN/TERMS/OF/INTERNATIONAL/MARITIME/CONVENTIONS/AND/MARINE/ACCIDENTS”. Güvenlik Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 14, no. 1, June 2025, pp. 27-58, doi:10.28956/gbd.1655181.
Vancouver
1.Batu Şengül, Fatih Yılmaz, Umut Sönmez. AUTONOMOUS/UNMANNED MARITIME VEHICLES: AN EVALUATION OF REGULATORY COMPLIANCE IN TERMS OF INTERNATIONAL MARITIME CONVENTIONS AND MARINE ACCIDENTS. Güvenlik Bilimleri Dergisi. 2025 Jun. 1;14(1):27-58. doi:10.28956/gbd.1655181

Cited By

2434714728147311473929833


This journal is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License29846