2.0 Background and Premise

The introduction of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS), as discussed in the previous chapter, is likely to challenge traditional obligations. Among these is the obligation of seaworthiness. This book queries how the legal concept of seaworthiness fares against the challenges posed by autonomous maritime technology. In MASS, seaworthiness may be required to account for a scenario in which human personnel are no longer present and software systems play a significant role in navigation and operation.1 In light of this, the obligation of seaworthiness ought to be reassessed.