Ankara University maritime law National Research Center (DEHUKAM), Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University and Institute of International Shipping and Trade Law, Swansea University jointly organized the “Autonomous ships in Maritime Law” Conference.The Conference, held on October 23, 2024 at the Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University Faculty of Law Conference Hall, began with the opening speeches of Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University Faculty Member and dehukam Expert Researcher Dr. Ceren Cerit Dindar and DEHUKAM Director Dr. Mustafa Başkara.In the 1st Session titled “Autonomous Ships and International Perspective” chaired by Piri Reis University Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Samim Ünan, Prof. Dr. Barış Soyer from Swansea University presented his presentation titled “Autonomous and Remote Controlled Transportation – Legal Challenges” regarding the remote control of autonomous ships and the legal challenges of these technologies. Then, Prof. Dr. George Leloudas, also from Swansea University, evaluated the legal regulations and responsibilities of drone use in maritime transport and other sectors with his presentation titled “Legal Status of Drones in Transportation (and Elsewhere) - Regulation and Obligations”. The 2nd Session titled Legal Problems That Autonomous Ships Will Create in the Turkish Maritime Sector and Their Solutions was held under the presidency of Prof. Dr. Neslihan Karataş Durmuş, Dean of the Faculty of Law at Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University. This session will address the legal problems that autonomous ships will create in the maritime sector in Turkey. Dr. Lecturer Selim Ciğer from Süleyman Demirel University, in his speech titled “Turkish Commercial Code and Autonomous Ships”, discussed the status of autonomous ships within the framework of the Turkish Commercial Code, Dr. Lecturer Member Ceren Cerit Dindar evaluated the legal status of personnel working in the control centers of autonomous ships with her speech titled “Law Applicable to Personnel Working in the Control Center, General Assessment within the Scope of the Maritime Labor Law Provisions”. Finally, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hatice Kübra Ecemiş Yılmaz touched upon the place of autonomous ships in international maritime law and their applications in Turkey with her presentation titled “Evaluation of Autonomous Ships in Terms of International Maritime Law and Applications in Turkey”. The conference addressed the place of autonomous ships in national and international maritime law, the legal dimensions of rapidly developing maritime technologies and offered participants a rich and multifaceted perspective.
