Liability for defective products in autonomous ships
implications of Directive (EU) 2024/2853
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20318/cdt.2025.9872Keywords:
autonomous ships, product liability, Directive 2024/2853, Maritime law, software defectsAbstract
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.
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