MASS Rotterdam
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The legal future of autonomous vessels
Autonomous ships continue to attract the attention of researchers and developers, and several (smaller scale) autonomous vessels such as survey craft and ferries are already operational. On the legal side, however, many questions are still open.
The MASS Rotterdam Conference will delve into these legal questions. Will the seaworthiness of an autonomous ship be appreciated in the same way as for a traditional ship? Is a Master still required when ship sail without a crew? A proper legal analysis of these and other questions requires an understanding of the technical realities. The MASS Rotterdam Conference will therefore also introduce an insight in the technology used in autonomous ships. Artificial Intelligence (AI) will obviously play a role, but which type of AI, with which characteristics? What is the situation in the field of automated collision avoidance and COLREGS compliance? Finally, the MASS Rotterdam Conference will be looking at the perspective of other interested parties. How do the shipyards that will be designing and building autonomous ships approach possible risks and liabilities? What does it take to convince regulators that the technology is mature enough to allow it to be used in day-to-day practice?
A panel of expert speakers will answer these questions during a two day conference in the world port city of Rotterdam.
