国际海事组织海上自主水面船舶的法律规制进程及中国因应

The Process of International Maritime Organization’s Legal Regulation on Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships and China’s Response

海上自主水面船舶(MASS)的技术和商业化发展在国际社会的充分关注下已渐成趋势。国际海事组织关注MASS的法律规制,希望在国际层面率先确立统一的MASS规则,并将其规则制定分为三阶段进行;各国船级社在国际海事组织的引领下,积极构建MASS国内船级社规范指南体系;一些国家也在国内立法层面回应了MASS国际规则的新进展。在各方推动下,MASS规则内容结构趋于明朗,但依然存在自主等级模糊等先决性问题。对此,中国应选择以下立法路径:在国际层面保持积极互动;在国内开展海事法律法规审查工作,但需谨慎考虑在《海商法》的修改过程中纳入MASS及其法律关系适用的问题,目前仍应以政府的政策性文件和船级社的技术性规范文件,引导和规范中国MASS的设计、建造、试验、运营和管理等,推进智能航运和智能船舶发展;在国际海事组织MASS规则文本出台后,在前期法规梳理的基础上有序开展国内立法工作。

The technical and commercial development of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships(MASS) is gradually taking shape under the full attention of the international community. IMO has called for the development of the MASS Code for this purpose, and its rulemaking is being carried out in three phases, with the aim of taking the lead in establishing uniform MASS rules at the international level. National classification societies, led by IMO, actively constructing a system of MASS domestic classification society code guidelines. Countries have also responded to the new developments in the MASS international code with the views expressed in IMO committee meetings and changes in their domestic legislation. The content structure of MASS rules is gradually becoming clear, but there are still problems such as the ambiguity of the autonomy hierarchy. In this regard, China should choose the following legislative paths: China should maintain active interaction with the development of international MASS Code at the international level. At the domestic level, China should carry out a review of maritime related laws and regulations, but the introduction of MASS and the application of its legal relations should be carefully considered in the process of amending the Maritime Law. At present, policy documents of the government and technical rules of China Classification Society should still guide and regulate the design, construction, trials, operation and management of MASS to promote the development of smart shipping and smart ships. After the issue of the instrument of the MASS Code of the IMO, the domestic legislation work should be carried out orderly according to the preliminary regulatory review of domestic laws and regulations.