From National Rules to Global Norms: Aligning China’s L2 Autonomous Ship Regulations with the IMO MASS Code

Yu Peng, Xinyi Han, Yanglian Ye () and Rongyu Fan
Additional contact information
Yu Peng: School of Law, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201308, China
Xinyi Han: School of Law, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201308, China
Yanglian Ye: School of Law, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201308, China
Rongyu Fan: School of Law, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201308, China

Laws, 2025, vol. 14, issue 5, 1-19

Abstract: The advent of remote control and autonomous technologies is fundamentally transforming ship manning models, necessitating adaptations in seafarer standards for L2-class autonomous vessels. To address these challenges, the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) is developing a non-mandatory Code for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS). This paper first conducts an in-depth analysis of the immutable legal obligations and variable technical standards governing seafarer manning for L2 autonomous ships, drawing on the China Classification Society’s (CCS) Rules for Intelligent Ships. It then scrutinizes the international legal barriers confronting CCS manning requirements, particularly concerning remote operator qualifications. The study focuses on aligning China’s regulatory framework with emerging IMO standards and proposes four targeted reforms to facilitate this alignment for L2 vessels: broadening the “seafarer” definition, updating minimum manning principles and procedures, modernizing competency standards, and establishing inclusive operational testing systems.

Keywords: L2-class autonomous ships; ship manning requirements; regulatory gaps; remote control operators; IMO MASS Code (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D78 E61 E62 F13 F42 F68 K0 K1 K2 K3 K4 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2075-471X/14/5/65/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2075-471X/14/5/65/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlawss:v:14:y:2025:i:5:p:65-:d:1746933

Access Statistics for this article

Laws is currently edited by Ms. Heather Liang

More articles in Laws from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().