BIMCO Approves Agreement for Management of First Autonomous Ships

In response to the growing number of remotely controlled ships, BIMCO’s Documentary Committee has adopted the AUTOSHIPMAN agreement for use in inland waterways and coastal trades.

As the maritime industry moves towards its climate neutrality goals, the world’s largest shipping association, BIMCO, has announced that it has approved a contractual framework created to support the rising number of remotely controlled vessels.

The primary purpose of this agreement - known as the AUTOSHIPMAN agreement - is to lay the foundation of a standardised contract-based system to allow third-party ship managers the ability to use remote-controlled or fully autonomous ships for operational services in inland waterways and coastal trades.

Captain Ajay Hazari of Anglo Eastern, responsible for leading the AUTOSHIPMAN drafting team, said:

“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”.

The agreement is modelled on BIMCO’s SHIPMAN agreement to govern commercial services, and provide a framework for the necessary obligations, responsibilities, and liabilities.

“AUTOSHIPMAN is a first step by BIMCO into the commercial operation of remotely controlled ships, and perhaps eventually fully autonomous ships”, Grant Hunter, Director, Standard, Innovation and Research at BIMCO said. 

According to BIMCO, one feature that could prove essential for complying with legal requirements is its flexibility to allow for ships to switch between different operational modes, even during a single voyage. 

“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”, Hunter continued.

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