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Lessons Learned from Robotics and AI in a Liability Context : A Sustainability Perspective

Öztürk, Anil LU orcid (2021) In Strategies for Sustainability p.315-335
Abstract
An important area of application of robotics technologies is unmanned water surface and underwater vehicles, such as in remote exploration work, maritime transportation, repairs of oil rigs and so on. This study evaluates the consequences of these technologies, particularly in a liability context. Taking into account the characteristics of vehicles mentioned above, especially autonomy, it is expected that development of these vehicles, and their increased use in the civil sector, is likely to require a new approach other than the well-established fault-based liability regime. Still, these autonomous vessels are not expected to require amendments to the basic tenets of maritime law as illustrated in, for instance, the 1972 IMO COLREGs... (More)
An important area of application of robotics technologies is unmanned water surface and underwater vehicles, such as in remote exploration work, maritime transportation, repairs of oil rigs and so on. This study evaluates the consequences of these technologies, particularly in a liability context. Taking into account the characteristics of vehicles mentioned above, especially autonomy, it is expected that development of these vehicles, and their increased use in the civil sector, is likely to require a new approach other than the well-established fault-based liability regime. Still, these autonomous vessels are not expected to require amendments to the basic tenets of maritime law as illustrated in, for instance, the 1972 IMO COLREGs Convention. In the light of contemporary applications, it is submitted that most unmanned water surface and underwater vehicles are becoming more and more autonomous, and they are closer to reasonable safety when compared to the ultra-hazardous activity of unmanned aerial vehicles. Safety being the keyword, this chapter argues that the liability regime that applies to unmanned marine vessels should not only conform to the technical characteristics of these vehicles but also balance the social interest in technological progress with the interest of general security and the freedom of commercial enterprise. Indeed, the liability regime to be applied to marine vessels should respond to similar needs with the regime to be applied to robots. A balanced and consistent liability regime is essential for the economic viability of maritime sectors, especially maritime transport, and the economic viability is a prerequisite for sustainability. Moreover, long-term sustainability concerns make it unreasonable to altogether refuse technological innovation, which has many advantages in terms of environmental protection and resource management. To that end, the present study focuses its analysis on the EU law. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), Maritime robotics, AI in shipping, Autonomous marine vessels, Liability in maritime law, Fault-based liability, Strict liability, Maritime safety, COLREGs Convention, Technological progress and regulation, Marine environmental monitoring, Autonomous vessel regulation, Law of the sea and robotics, Maritime governance, Maritime law, Sjörätt
host publication
Sustainability in the Maritime Domain : Towards Ocean Governance and Beyond - Towards Ocean Governance and Beyond
series title
Strategies for Sustainability
editor
Carpenter, Angela ; Johansson, Tafsir M. and Skinner, Jon A.
pages
315 - 335
publisher
Springer
ISBN
ISBN 978-3-030-69325-1
978-3-030-69324-4
DOI
10.1007/978-3-030-69325-1_16
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
8d78e1a0-dd83-4a29-ab0c-59b8d9105308
date added to LUP
2025-08-13 14:14:37
date last changed
2025-08-15 13:43:03
@inbook{8d78e1a0-dd83-4a29-ab0c-59b8d9105308,
  abstract     = {{An important area of application of robotics technologies is unmanned water surface and underwater vehicles, such as in remote exploration work, maritime transportation, repairs of oil rigs and so on. This study evaluates the consequences of these technologies, particularly in a liability context. Taking into account the characteristics of vehicles mentioned above, especially autonomy, it is expected that development of these vehicles, and their increased use in the civil sector, is likely to require a new approach other than the well-established fault-based liability regime. Still, these autonomous vessels are not expected to require amendments to the basic tenets of maritime law as illustrated in, for instance, the 1972 IMO COLREGs Convention. In the light of contemporary applications, it is submitted that most unmanned water surface and underwater vehicles are becoming more and more autonomous, and they are closer to reasonable safety when compared to the ultra-hazardous activity of unmanned aerial vehicles. Safety being the keyword, this chapter argues that the liability regime that applies to unmanned marine vessels should not only conform to the technical characteristics of these vehicles but also balance the social interest in technological progress with the interest of general security and the freedom of commercial enterprise. Indeed, the liability regime to be applied to marine vessels should respond to similar needs with the regime to be applied to robots. A balanced and consistent liability regime is essential for the economic viability of maritime sectors, especially maritime transport, and the economic viability is a prerequisite for sustainability. Moreover, long-term sustainability concerns make it unreasonable to altogether refuse technological innovation, which has many advantages in terms of environmental protection and resource management. To that end, the present study focuses its analysis on the EU law.}},
  author       = {{Öztürk, Anil}},
  booktitle    = {{Sustainability in the Maritime Domain : Towards Ocean Governance and Beyond}},
  editor       = {{Carpenter, Angela and Johansson, Tafsir M. and Skinner, Jon A.}},
  isbn         = {{ISBN 978-3-030-69325-1}},
  keywords     = {{Unmanned surface vehicles (USVs); Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs); Maritime robotics; AI in shipping; Autonomous marine vessels; Liability in maritime law; Fault-based liability; Strict liability; Maritime safety; COLREGs Convention; Technological progress and regulation; Marine environmental monitoring; Autonomous vessel regulation; Law of the sea and robotics; Maritime governance; Maritime law; Sjörätt}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{05}},
  pages        = {{315--335}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Strategies for Sustainability}},
  title        = {{Lessons Learned from Robotics and AI in a Liability Context : A Sustainability Perspective}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-69325-1_16}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/978-3-030-69325-1_16}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}