Beware of the slippery slope towards unmanned ships

AT FIRST glance an announcement from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) last week seemed reasonable and responsible.

It said it had commenced work to look into how safe, secure and environmentally sound Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) operations may be addressed in IMO instruments. A correspondence group is to conduct an initial assessment of SOLAS regulation III/17-1 (Recovery of persons from the water), which requires all ships to have ship-specific plans and procedures for recovery of persons from the water; SOLAS regulation V/19.2 (Carriage requirements for carriage of shipborne navigational equipment and systems); and Load Lines regulation 10 (Information to be supplied to the master).

If it is all about ensuring "safe, secure and environmentally sound" shipping what can there be not to like about this move? Well, an awful lot actually.