Authorities have to adjust to autonomous shipping

Sophie Priebbenow and Michelle Taylor, at Sparke Helmore, a member of Global Insurance Law Connect, explore the challenges of autonomous vessels operating in Australian waters

For centuries, stories have abounded of uncrewed ships sighted adrift at sea, a phenomenon so striking it earned the moniker "ghost ship" or "phantom ship". As maritime autonomous vehicle (MAV) technology continues to advance, however, it is probable that vessels of this nature will become common at sea and may in time comprise a significant proportion of maritime traffic. MAVs have already been used in military surveillance, scientific research (oceanography and hydrography) and transportation, as well as commercial applications such as offshore oil and gas extraction.