Shipping has always changed slowly, until it doesn’t. At certain points, a new development becomes too significant to remain outside the regulatory system. There are moments in maritime history when the industry shifts in ways that affect not only ships, but the wider system around them. The transition from sail to steam, the move from...

If the people, systems and decisions that keep a ship operationally safe are no longer all on board, how does the industry prove that safety is still under control? As maritime operations move toward autonomous and remotely operated ships, this question becomes central. Before asking when these vessels will become common, the industry needs to...