Uncrewed Vessels and International Law.

• Superior document: Maritime Cooperation in East Asia Series ; v.14
• Author: Zhang, Haiwen.
• TeilnehmendeR: Huang, Yao.; Xing, Lijuan.
• Place / Publishing House: Boston : : BRILL,, 2024.; ©2024.
• Year of Publication: 2024
• Edition: 1st ed.
• Language: English
• Series: Maritime Cooperation in East Asia Series
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (331 pages)

This policy-oriented jurisprudence presents, in international and comparative perspective, the latest research findings on legal challenges faced by the international regulatory framework, as posed by the increasing deployment of uncrewed vessels at sea.

Table of Contents

Front Cover -- Contents -- Figures, Table and Maps -- Figures -- Tables -- Maps -- Notes on Editors and Contributors -- Editors -- Contributors -- Introduction: Charting the Course on the Autonomous Ocean -- 1 Contours -- 2 Terminology -- 3 Assumptions -- 4 Source of Doubts -- 5 About This Volume -- 1 Regulations of International Humanitarian Law and Naval Warfare Law on UUVs Operations at Sea -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Legal Status of Unmanned Underwater Vehicles -- 2.1 Legal Status of UUVs under Peacetime Rules -- 2.2 Legal Status of UUVs under Wartime Rules -- 3 Application of Existing Maritime Warfare Rules to Unmanned Underwater Vehicles -- 3.1 Interpretation and Application of the Basic Principles of International Humanitarian Law -- 3.2 Interpretation and Application of the Rules of the Naval Warfare Law on the Means and Methods of Warfare -- 4 Conclusion -- 2 Forcing Their Way Out at Sea: UMS in the Law of Naval Warfare -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Categorizing Military UMS -- 2.1 Legal Status as Ships? -- 2.2 Legal Status as Warships? -- 2.3 Legal Status as Auxiliary Vessels or Other 'Military Devices'? -- 3 UMS and the Law Relating to Use of Force -- 3.1 Naval Navigation -- 3.2 Naval Law Enforcement and Use of Force -- 4 Navigational and Belligerent Rights of UMS in Armed Conflicts at Sea -- 4.1 Navigational Rights -- 4.2 Belligerent Rights -- 4.2.1 Attacks -- 4.2.2 Prize Measures -- 4.2.3 Blockades and Establishment of War Zones -- 4.2.4 Rethinking the Regime of Belligerent Rights? -- 5 Special Rights and Obligations of UMS-Using States in Armed Conflicts at Sea -- 5.1 Neutral Navigational Rights and Limitations -- 5.2 Neutral Rights and Obligations Regarding Ports and Harbors -- 5.3 Neutral Rights and Obligations in Neutral Waters -- 6 Conclusion.

3 Using Uncrewed Maritime Vehicles for Scientific Research: Legal Challenges and Viable Solutions -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Difficulties in the Identification of Legal Status and Activities of Using UMVs for Scientific Research under UNCLOS -- 2.1 Defining Uncrewed Maritime Vehicles (UMVs) -- 2.2 The Legal Status of Uncrewed Maritime Vehicles -- 2.2.1 The Legal Status of Float -- 2.2.2 The Legal Status of Uncrewed Surface Vehicles (USVs) -- 2.2.3 The Legal Status of Uncrewed Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) -- 2.3 Controversy over the Nature of Uncrewed Maritime Vehicles' Scientific Research -- 3 The Challenges to the Rights and Obligations of States Concerned under UNCLOS during UMVs' Conducting Scientific Research -- 3.1 The Issues of Using UMVs for Scientific Research in Territorial Sea and EEZ -- 3.2 The Issues of Using UMVs for Scientific Research in the Waters beyond EEZ -- 4 The Responses to the Legal Challenges of Using Uncrewed Maritime Vehicles for Scientific Research -- 4.1 To Regulate Using UMVs for MSR in Domestic Laws -- 4.2 To Regulate Using UMVs for MSR at the International Level -- 4.2.1 Clarifying the Interpretation and Application of Relevant International Rules -- 4.2.2 Pushing Forward the Development of Relevant International Rules or Guidelines on Using UMVs for MSR -- 4.2.3 Promoting International Cooperation in the Using UMVs for MSR -- 5 Conclusion -- 4 Cybersecurity of Unmanned Ships: a Legal Analysis -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Definition of Unmanned Ships -- 2.1 Historical Development of Unmanned Ships -- 2.2 Synthesized Definition of Unmanned Ships -- 3 The Cyber Risks of Unmanned Ships and the Existing Legal Regulation -- 3.1 The Cyber Risks of Unmanned Ships -- 3.2 Existing Legal Regulation Regarding Cyber Risks of Unmanned Ships -- 3.2.1 Rules of International Law -- 3.2.2 Chinese Domestic Law.

4 Measures for the Development of Unmanned Ships based on Cooperation and Risk Prevention -- 4.1 Personnel and Equipment Upgrades -- 4.1.1 Personnel Upgrades -- 4.1.2 Equipment Upgrades -- 4.2 International Cooperation -- 4.2.1 Amending Existing Treaties -- 4.2.2 Promoting Regional Cooperation -- 4.3 Drafting Domestic Laws and Regulations -- 5 Conclusion -- 5 Regulating the Passage of Nuclear-Powered Submarines and Autonomous -- 1 Introduction -- 2 The Status of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore under UNCLOS -- 3 Nuclear-Powered Submarines and Autonomous Drones-Aspirations of Maritime Nations -- 4 Implications of Radioactive Pollution -- 5 Protection of the Marine Environment -- 6 The Application of Non-suspendable Innocent Passage in the Strait of Malacca -- 7 Political and Legal Implications -- 8 Recharacterizing the Straits -- 9 Conclusion -- Journal Articles and Books -- News Articles -- Cases -- Treaties/ Agreement -- 6 Is International Law Adequate to Regulate Underwater Unmanned Vehicles (UUVs)? -- 1 Introduction -- 2 The Diversified Legal Status of UUVs -- 2.1 The 'Warship Theory' and the 'Submarine Theory' in the Context of UNCLOS -- 2.2 The 'Ship's Apparel' or 'Vessel's Theory' in the Context of Maritime Law -- 2.3 Weaponized UUVs-'Autonomous Weapon Systems' in the Context of IHL -- 3 Legal Challenges Invoked by the Marine Application of UUVs -- 3.1 Challenges to the Maritime Jurisdiction of Coastal States under the Law of the Sea Posed by Military UUVs -- 3.2 Challenges to the Traditional Doctrine of Sovereign Immunity Posed by Military UUVs -- 3.3 Challenges to International Humanitarian Law Posed by Weapon-type UUVs -- 4 China's Response to the Application of UUV in the Ocean.

4.1 To Legislate, Amend and Consolidate Laws Corresponding to the Activities of UUVs and Their Mother Ships in Other Countries in Maritime Areas under China's Jurisdiction -- 4.2 Participation in International Conventions on the Creation of Autonomous Weapon Systems and the Enhancement of China's Voice in this Field -- 5 Conclusion -- 7 Challenges Raised by Unmanned Ships and Flag State's Possible Jurisdiction Cooperations -- 1 Introduction -- 2 New Changes of the Unmanned Ship and Its Operation Party -- 2.1 Existing Rules as Basis of Conventional Ships and Its On-board Operation -- 2.2 Characteristics and Classifications of Unmanned Ships -- 2.3 Possible Types of Future Operation Party of the Unmanned Ships -- 3 Exclusive Flag State Jurisdiction and the 'Genuine Link' -- 3.1 Principle of Freedom and the Purpose of Flag State Jurisdiction -- 3.1.1 Principle of Freedom of the Seas -- 3.1.2 Right of Navigation -- 3.1.3 Flag State Jurisdiction -- 3.2 Nationality of Ships and the 'Genuine Link' Requirement -- 3.2.1 Nationality of Ships -- 3.2.2 'Genuine Link' under the HSC and UNCLOS -- 3.2.3 Meaning of the 'Genuine Link' -- 3.3 Problems of the Exercise of the Flag State Jurisdiction -- 4 Challenges to Flag State Jurisdiction Arising from the Unmanned Operation of Ships -- 4.1 Article 94 of UNCLOS -- 4.2 A Further Weakening of the Substantial Connection with the Flag State -- 4.3 Challenges to the Foundation of Flag State Jurisdiction -- 4.4 Jurisdiction Vacuum -- 4.4.1 Jurisdiction Vacuum -- 4.4.2 Possible Vacuum or Conflict in the Exercise of Jurisdiction -- 5 Solving Flag State Jurisdiction Issues through Cooperations -- 5.1 To Strengthen the Flag State's Jurisdiction Exercises within IMO Framework -- 5.2 Cooperations between the Flag State and the Classification Society -- 5.3 Flag State's Jurisdiction Cooperation with Other States.

5.3.1 Flag State's Jurisdiction Cooperation with Port State -- 5.3.2 Flag State's Jurisdiction Cooperation with the States of Shore-Based Operators and the Remote Operation Center -- 5.3.3 Flag State's Jurisdiction Cooperation with the States of the Ship Operator -- 6 Conclusion -- Books and Chapters -- Articles -- Conventions -- Cases -- Reports and Documents -- 8 IMO Legal Regulation of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Phased Development of MASS Legislation within the IMO Framework -- 3 The Construction of a System of MASS Code Guidelines for National Classification Societies -- 3.1 Core of the System: MASS Classification Society Rules -- 3.2 Main Content: MASS Guidelines Issued by Classification Societies -- 4 National Responses to MASS Code Developments -- 4.1 Proposing MASS Rulemaking as an IMO Member -- 4.1.1 National Perspectives in MSC Meetings -- 4.1.2 National Perspectives in LEG Meetings -- 4.2 Representative National and Regional Regulatory Responses to the Development of the MASS Code -- 5 An Exploration of MASS Code Trends -- 5.1 The MASS Autonomous Level Division Needs to be Improved Urgently -- 5.1.1 Blurred Standards: Defects in the Division of MASS Autonomy Levels within the IMO Framework -- 5.1.2 The Human Element: the Path to Refinement of the MASS Autonomy Hierarchy -- 5.2 The Content and Structure of the MASS Code Is Becoming Clearer -- 6 China's Response in the Context of the Development of the MASS Code -- 6.1 Analysis of the Necessity of Constructing MASS Regulation in China -- 6.2 China's Perspectives at the IMO Conferences -- 6.3 Controversies and Responses to the Application of the Maritime Law to MASS -- 6.4 The Path to Constructing China's Domestic Rule System before the Promulgation of the MASS Code -- 6.4.1 Classification Societies Improve the Content of the Rule-and-Guide System.

6.4.2 Government Departments Issue Administrative Regulations for MASS Supervision.