Liability for defective products in autonomous ships

implications of Directive (EU) 2024/2853

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20318/cdt.2025.9872

Keywords:

autonomous ships, product liability, Directive 2024/2853, Maritime law, software defects

Abstract

The introduction of autonomous ships in the maritime sector marks a shift from traditio-nal liability frameworks, historically centred on human error. As control increasingly shifts to automated systems, technical faults—particularly in software—gain legal significance. This paper analyses the impact of Directive 2024/2853 on defective products within maritime law, assessing its applicability to unmanned vessels and its potential to address a liability gap. It considers whether injured parties could bring claims against software developers and shipbuilders, as well as the limits and exemptions of liabi-lity. Finally, the paper explores whether autonomous navigation may lead to increased litigation under product liability regimes, given the dependency of these vessels on complex automated systems.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

2025-10-20

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 2 (2025)

Section

Estudios

License

Se permite que los autores de los trabajos de investigación publicados en la Revista los reproduzcan en otros sitios siempre que se haga mención de que han sido previamente publicados en Cuadernos de Derecho Transnacional (CDT).

How to Cite

Liability for defective products in autonomous ships: implications of Directive (EU) 2024/2853. (2025). CUADERNOS DE DERECHO TRANSNACIONAL, 17(2), 80-114. https://doi.org/10.20318/cdt.2025.9872