Crimes Committed Through Unmanned Maritime Vehicles in The Context of International Maritime Security Law

Year 2025, Issue: 1, 3 - 46

Hamza Çorum

https://doi.org/10.33432/ybuhukuk.1570414

Abstract

Autonomous and remotely operated unmanned maritime vehicles are increasingly being used in various areas at sea. There have also been instances where these vehicles have been used with the intent to commit crimes, and the capabilities they offer could lead to an increase in such use in the future. The fact that crimes such as piracy, violence, trafficking of migrants and prohibited goods, and many other illegal acts can potentially be committed using these vehicles raises the question of whether maritime security law is sufficiently updated to prevent such crimes. Indeed, the current maritime security law, which assumes that crimes will be committed by conventional ships with crew members on board, requires legal analysis to determine to what extent it can be applied in the case of crimes committed by unmanned maritime vehicles. First and foremost, even the issue of whether these unmanned maritime vehicles can be classified as "ships" requires legal evaluation. Moreover, while having the status of a ship may resolve many issues for unmanned maritime vehicles used in maritime transportation, it also presents unique challenges for maritime security law when the perpetrators are in another country. The most significant issue arising from this is that the jurisdiction granted to states by the law of the sea for preventing crimes at sea becomes ineffective in reaching the operators of unmanned maritime vehicles located on the territory of another state. Therefore, ensuring maritime security may now require states to carry out law enforcement duties not only at sea but also on land. As a result of this necessity, as predicted at the end of this study, it will be helpful for states to engage in international cooperation against land-based elements that threaten maritime security, as they do at sea.

Keywords

Unmanned ships, Maritime security law, International law of the sea, Maritime crimes, United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Uluslararası Deniz Güvenliği Hukuku Bağlamında İnsansız Deniz Araçları Aracılığıyla İşlenen Suçlar

Abstract

Otonom ve uzaktan kumanda edilerek seyredebilen insansız deniz araçları denizlerde pek çok alanda kullanılmaya başlamaktadır. Bu araçların denizlerde suç işlemek maksadıyla kullanılması bu alanlardan biridir ve sundukları kabiliyetler bu araçların bu alanda kullanımının gelecekte artmasına sebep olabileceğine işaret etmektedir. Deniz haydutluğu, şiddet, göçmen ve yasaklı mal trafiği gibi pek çok suç fiilinin bu araçlar aracılığıyla işlenebilecek olması, deniz güvenliği hukukunun bu suçların önlenmesi bakımından güncelliğinin sorgulanmasına yol açmaktadır. Nitekim denizlerde suçların geleneksel gemiler ve üzerlerindeki mürettebat ile işleneceği varsayımıyla hazırlanan mevcut deniz güvenlik hukuku kaynaklarının bu suçların bir insansız deniz aracı aracılığıyla işlenmesi durumunda ne ölçüde uygulanabilir olduğu hukuki analize ihtiyaç duyar. En başta bu insansız araçların “gemi” olarak sınıflandırılıp sınıflandırılamayacağı hususu dahi hukuki bir değerlendirme gerektirir. Üstelik gemi statüsüne sahip olmak, örneğin deniz taşımacılığında kullanılacak bir insansız deniz aracı için pek çok sorunu çözerken, faillerin bir başka devletin ülkesinde bulunduğu durumlarda deniz güvenliği hukuku bakımından emsalsiz yeni sorunlar doğurmaktadır. Bu sorunlardan en önemlisi deniz hukukunun suçların önlenmesinde devletlere denizlere tanıdığı yargı yetkisinin insansız deniz araçlarının başka devletlerin kara parçasında bulunan operatörlerine ulaşmak için işlevsiz kalmasıdır. Bu nedenle deniz güvenliğinin sağlanması için artık denizlerde olduğu kadar karada da devletlerin kolluk vazifelerinde bulunması gerekebilir. Bu gerekliliğin sonucu olarak, çalışmanın sonunda öngörüldüğü üzere, deniz güvenliğini sağlamak için devletlerin denizlerdekine benzer şekilde deniz güvenliğini tehdit eden kara unsurlarına karşı uluslararası iş birliği içerisinde olması faydalı olacaktır.

Keywords

Birleşmiş Milletler Deniz Hukuku Sözleşmesi, İnsansız gemiler, İnsansız deniz araçları, Deniz güvenlik hukuku, Uluslararası deniz hukuku, Denizde işlenen suçlar

Thanks

Araştırmacı, bu çalışmadaki maddi ve manevi destekleri için Milli Eğitim Bakanlığına teşekkür eder.

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