About the conference

The autonomous shipping revolution is beginning. Although autonomous merchant vessels are currently experimental, it is likely that they will be entering commercial service in the near future. While many of the familiar rules of shipping law will carry across relatively seamlessly from vessels controlled by crew onboard to those controlled from onshore or even entirely autonomously, not all will. It is inevitable that tensions will arise.

A group of established scholars from world-leading University College London (UCL) and the internationally renowned Institute of International Shipping and Trade Law (IISTL) at Swansea University are collaborating to hold a series of conferences to consider the legal changes which may be needed to accommodate the autonomous shipping revolution.

In the first of these conferences, which will take place on 27 October 2021, a distinguished group of scholars and practitioners will convene to discuss the complex private law liability and contractual issues associated with the use of autonomous ships in the context of the carriage of goods and marine insurance. A further conference will be held later this year to consider the regulatory and public law issues emerging from the same cause.

We will be limiting the numbers invited to each conference to 40 in order to comply with UCL’s COVID-19 restrictions and provide a safe environment for all.

The Speakers and Chairpersons

• Sir Richard Aikens, Brick Court Chambers
• Prof Simon Baughen, IISTL, Swansea University
• Julian Clark, Ince Law Firm
• Paul Dean, Partner and Global Head of Shipping, HFW
• Peter MacDonald Eggers QC, 7 King’s Bench Walk
• Dr Melis Özdel, UCL
• Prof Bariş Soyer, IISTL, Swansea University
• Professor Andrew Tettenborn, IISTL, Swansea University
• Tom Walters, Holman Fenwick Willan

COVID-19

This is an in-person event with limited number of tickets. UCL requires all attendees to wear face masks in our buildings, including in the lecture theatre. If you are exempt from wearing a mask please ensure that your bring your printed government exepmption card with you to show at security.

Cancellation

If you are not able to attend the event you can cancel your place and receive a full refund up to 5 working days before the conference.

If you are unwell with Covid symptoms or have received a positive test or been pinged by the Covid app, you must NOT come to the conference. Please supply proof of a positive test or your ping in order to receive a full refund.

Queries

If you have any queries about this event please contact the UCL Laws Events Team by emailing laws-events@ucl.ac.uk