Autonomous ships and legal aspects of autonomous shipping business

Automated ships can be divided in two main categories, remote-controlled ships and autonomous ships. In this research I will not be focused on the technical side of the problem (how the ship navigates, how it is being constructed, etc.); instead I will be mainly focused on the legal aspects of this profession such as the ship master¿s responsibility, P&I clubs, insurance &claims, international rules and regulations, etc. Big problems from the legal point of view are what will happen with the master's authority and responsibility? Who is the master of an autonomous ship? How will autonomous vessels abide by COLREG regulations (Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972)? Who will be responsible for cargo operations during the port stay and ship¿s stability during the cargo operations and navigation? How to deal with other various legal challenges? Other problems and benefits which are discussed are how autonomous ships could make the maritime business safer, how they can be more economical for the shipowners and how will they affect the social status of seafarers, their families and all those facilities that depend on seafarers.