In the face of automation, legislation should pay particular attention to ensuring safety, according to a study on the automation of maritime transport and the regulation of autonomous vessels, commissioned by the Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications.
The study on the development of maritime automation is part of the preparatory work for the action plan and legislative plan on maritime automation.
The study has charted the international and Finnish and Norwegian national regulations concerning the Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship (MASS), and has described the current state of regulation and development needs.
According to the study, autonomy requires general safety requirements for the operation and technology of ships, in particular to ensure navigability. Autonomous ships are vessels capable of operating independently or remotely controlled.
The study also presents autonomous ship technologies, focusing on the technology, algorithms, and machine learning models required in autonomous navigation systems. In addition, it deals with legislation on tests to be carried out in the Baltic Sea, and the development of such legislation.
As the study says, various tests of maritime automation are possible under the current regulations with minor changes, if the local authorities approve the activity. Permanent transport, on the other hand, requires changes to regulations in both national and international law. The observations of the study can be utilised in the planning of legislation in Finland and in the preparatory work carried out by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).