Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety (해양환경안전학회지)

The Korean Society of Marine Environment and safety (해양환경안전학회)
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Legal Status and Major Issue of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) in International Law

자율운항선박의 국제법 지위와 주요쟁점에 관한 연구

  • Chun, Jung-soo (Korea Maritime & Ocean University) ;
  • Park, Han-seon (Maritime Safety Department/Maritime Industry & Safety Division of Korea Maritime Institute)
  • 천정수 (한국해양대학교 해양군사학과) ;
  • 박한선 (한국해양수산개발원 해사안전연구실/해사법무정책학)
  • Received : 2021.03.15
  • Accepted : 2021.04.27
  • Published : 2021.04.30
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Abstract

Ground, sea and air mobility, such as vehicles, ships, and airplanes, are generally operated by people. Based on the innovative development of autonomous decision-making systems and artificial intelligence (AI) following the recent fourth industrial revolution, research and development on maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS) is been actively performed around the world. Before the realization of the commercialization of MASS in international maritime transport, it is urgent to clarify the characteristics of this ship and its international legal status. This paper aims to analyze the concern of whether a ship without crew members will eventually be operated as a fully unmanned ship or can be recognized as a ship under international law as the number of crew members is gradually reduced owing to the development stage of autonomous ships. Consequently, based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the regulations of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), it was found that MASS has the same international legal status as general ships. In addition this paper presents the working principles of enacting and revising the IMO Conventions and international legal measures necessary for the safe operation of MASS.

선박을 포함한 지상, 해상, 공중의 이동체는 일반적으로 사람에 의해서 운용되고 있는데, 최근 제4차 산업혁명에 따른 자율의사결정시스템과 인공지능의 획기적 발전을 기반으로 자율 이동 개념의 무인이동체에 대한 연구개발이 전 세계적으로 활발하게 진행되고 있다. 국제해상운송에서 자율운항선박(MASS)의 상용화 실현을 앞두고 이 선박에 대한 성격 규정과 국제법적 지위에 대한 규명이 시급해졌다. 자율운항선박은 발전단계에 따라 승선원이 점차 감축되어 결국에는 완전히 무인화된 선박으로 운용될 것인데, 이 연구를 통하여 승선원이 없는 선박도 국제법상 선박으로써의 지위를 인정받을 수 있는가에 대한 쟁점 사항을 분석하였다. 이를 위하여 유엔해양법협약(UNCLOS) 및 국제해사기구(IMO)의 제반 법규를 중심으로 자율운항선박은 일반선박과 동일한 국제법적 지위를 가지고 있음을 규명하고, 자율운항선박을 운용하는데 필요한 제반 국제협약의 제·개정작업에 관한 제도개선 방향과 국제법적 조치사항을 제시하였다.

Keywords

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