BIMCO approves first management agreement for autonomous ships
Overview
BIMCO’s Documentary Committee has adopted the AUTOSHIPMAN agreement in response to a growing number of remotely controlled ships.
“Currently, remotely controlled ships are operating commercially in several parts of the world. We are seeing growth in this sector with several companies emerging and offering remote control management services to shipowners,” said Captain Ajay Hazari, Anglo Eastern, who led the AUTOSHIPMAN drafting team.
The agreement has been developed using the widely used SHIPMAN agreement to govern commercial services and provide the framework for the obligations, responsibilities, and liabilities. One of the key features of AUTOSHIPMAN is the flexibility that allows ships to switch operational modes even during a voyage.
The flexibility matters because it may be a legal requirement for remotely controlled ships to be partially or fully manned when passing through the territorial waters of a jurisdiction or for calling at a port.
“AUTOSHIPMAN is a first step by BIMCO into the commercial operation of remotely controlled ships, and perhaps eventually fully autonomous ships. During the development of AUTOSHIPMAN, we were assisted by legal and insurance experts, and we have gained valuable insight throughout the process from companies who are already operating ships remotely around the world,” says Grant Hunter, Director, Standard, Innovation and Research at BIMCO.
Feedback or a question about this information?
Posted:
09 October 2024
VPS Bunker Alerts
Veritas Petroleum Services (VPS) publish regular Bunker Alerts based entirely on fuel samples and have kindly permitted BIMCO’s Members to access this information.
The Bunker Alerts are not intended to be an evaluation of overall bunker quality in the port or area concerned, but usually highlight a specific parameter within the fuel which has raised a quality issue.
Latest ice reports for members
Latest piracy reports
Latest industry releasable threats
Related event
Smart Maritime Network Singapore Conference
- Singapore,Singapore
- 03 December, 2024
Grant Hunter, Chief Digital Officer and Director of Products at BIMCO, is speaking at the Smart Maritime Network (SMN) Conference in Singapore on "Unpacking ...
Related publication
BIMCO Bulletin (discontinued)
The archive of BIMCO's digital magazine which was published quarterly until mid-2021.
ELSEWHERE ON BIMCO
Contracts & Clauses
All of BIMCO's most widely used contracts and clauses as well as advice on managing charters and business partners.
Learn about your cargo
For general guidance and information on cargo-related queries.
BIMCO Publications
Want to buy or download a BIMCO publication? Use the link to get access to the ballast water management guide, the ship master’s security manual and many other publications.
About a new business partner
We can help members check new business partners. We also help to recover millions of USD (undisputed) funds every year.
