Abstract

The number of unmanned maritime vehicles (UMVs) and their potential applications in the marine space are growing constantly. Because of their comparatively small size and limited operations, only modest attention has been paid to how they fit into the international legal framework. Many UMVs may not be considered to fall under the definition of "ship" so as to enjoy states' rights of navigation under UNCLOS. Therefore states, manufacturers, and investors remain uncertain about the rights and obligations regarding UMV operations in the various maritime zones. This article addresses these questions for a range of UMVs with differing levels of autonomy. It argues that the international legal framework delegates the question of whether a UMV is a ship or not to the flag state's national laws. The article suggests that such a determination will be binding on other states. With respect to UMVs that do not fall under the definition of ship, there is remaining uncertainty about whether any navigational rights in the jurisdictional zones of other states are available, while it is argued that such rights do exist in the areas beyond national jurisdiction. The article also considers the extent to which today's UMVs can comply with the international framework for ensuring safety at sea. For those UMVs falling under the definition of ship, compliance with the current regulatory framework for shipping is required and compliance will be more difficult as the level of UMV autonomy increases.

摘要

无人驾驶海上交通工具（UMV）的数量及其在海洋空间中的潜在应用正在不断增长。由于它们的规模较小且业务活动有限，因此仅对它们如何适应国际法律框架给予了很少的关注。为了享受《联合国海洋法公约》所规定的国家航行权，许多UMV可能不被视为属于“船舶”的定义。因此，各州，制造商和投资者仍不确定在各个海域中有关UMV操作的权利和义务。本文针对具有不同自治级别的一系列UMV解决了这些问题。它认为，国际法律框架将UMV是否为船舶的问题委托给船旗国的国家法律。该文章建议，这种决定将对其他国家具有约束力。对于不属于船舶定义的无人飞行器，在其他国家的管辖区中是否可获得任何航行权方面仍存在不确定性，尽管有人认为此类权利确实存在于国家管辖范围以外的地区。本文还考虑了当今的UMV可以在多大程度上符合确保海上安全的国际框架。对于那些属于船舶定义的UMV，需要遵守当前的运输法规框架，并且随着UMV自治程度的提高，合规性将更加困难。关于在其他国家的管辖区中是否可获得任何航行权，仍然存在不确定性，尽管有人认为此类权利确实存在于国家管辖范围以外的地区。本文还考虑了当今的UMV可以在多大程度上符合确保海上安全的国际框架。对于那些属于船舶定义的UMV，需要遵守当前的运输法规框架，并且随着UMV自治程度的提高，合规性将更加困难。关于在其他国家的管辖区中是否可获得任何航行权，仍然存在不确定性，尽管有人认为此类权利确实存在于国家管辖范围以外的地区。本文还考虑了当今的UMV可以在多大程度上符合确保海上安全的国际框架。对于那些属于船舶定义的UMV，需要遵守当前的运输法规框架，并且随着UMV自治程度的提高，合规性将更加困难。