智能无人船海上货物运输承运人责任问题探究

Research on the Carrier’s Liability in Maritime Cargo Transport by Intelligent Unmanned Ship

随着科学技术的快速发展,海上货物运输无人化已经成为航运业的发展趋势,智能无人船的创造迎合了海上货物运输的发展趋势,也给《中华人民共和国海商法》(以下简称《海商法》)带来了新的挑战。承运人的责任是海上货物运输的核心内容,在承运人的识别过程中应当坚持以合同相对性为识别承运人的依据。技术革新以及承运人对无人船控制力的增强使得智能无人船承运人的归责原则发生转变。智能无人船无人化、智能化的特性将影响智能无人船承运人的适航义务和管货义务。智能无人船的智能化并不能规避所有海上风险,因此航海过失责任有其存在的必要性,同时应当考虑将网络攻击纳入智能无人船承运人的免责事由。

With the rapid development of science and technology, unmanned maritime cargo transport has become a trend in the shipping industry, creating intelligent unmanned ships to adapt to the development trend of maritime cargo transport and the Maritime Law of the People’s Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as the Maritime Law) has posed new challenges. The carrier’s liability is an important part of the carriage of goods by sea. When determining the carrier, the principle of relativity of contract should be followed as the basis for determining the carrier. Technological innovations and the strengthening of carrier control of unmanned vessels are changing the principle of liability for self-regulating unmanned vessels. The unmanned and intelligent characteristics of intelligent unmanned ships will affect the seaworthiness and cargo management obligations of intelligent unmanned ships. The intelligence of intelligent unmanned ships cannot avoid all maritime risks, so maritime negligence liability is necessary, and cyber attacks should be considered as included when exempting intelligent unmanned ships from liability.