The international legal status of the unmanned maritime vehicles

Yen-Chiang Chang, Ph.D, Chao Zhang, Ph.D, Assistant Professor, Nannan Wang, Ph.D, Professorc

School of Law, Dalian Maritime University, China

School of Law, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China

School of Maritime Economics and Management, Dalian Maritime University, China

Keywords：Unmanned maritime vehicle;International legal status;UNCLOS;COLREGS

Abstract：Unmanned maritime vehicles have broad application in both military and civilian aspects. The legal status this concept, however, is still unclear, thus making them a controversial and ‘sensitive area’. Defining the international legal status of unmanned maritime vehicles is a prerequisite to their protection and regulation. Based on an analysis of the international legal status that regulates different types of unmanned maritime vehicle, this paper discusses the legal implications of the craft in different situations, from the perspective of the law of the sea. The paper concludes by suggesting that, coastal States should promote the principle of safeguarding national security and interests, as well taking cognisance of existing international conventions, such as the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 1972 International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, plus related domestic laws and regulations, in order to deal appropriately with foreign unmanned maritime vehicles.

中文摘要：无人舰船在军事和民用领域都有广阔的应用前景，但与其相关的法律问题尚不明晰，使之成为颇具争议的“敏感地带”。明确无人舰船的国际法律地位是对其进行保护和规范的前提。本文在分析不同种类的无人舰船的国际法律地位的基础上，从海洋法的视角出发确定不同情形下无人舰船的法律适用，进而提出沿海国应以维护国家安全和利益为原则，充分利用1982年《联合国海洋法公约》和1972年《国际海上避碰规则》等现行国际公约及相关国内法律、法规以应对在沿海国管辖海域运行的外国无人舰船。

原文链接：/lunwen20200909.pdf