Afloat and Airborne: A Dual Examination of IMO and ICAO Perspectives on Unmanned Vehicles

At a time of rapid technological advancement, unmanned ships and aircraft offer great potential in the maritime and aviation sectors. This article considers the regulatory environment for unmanned ships and aircraft, examining how international regulatory approaches can shape the frameworks
in these areas. This article compares IMO’s classification approach for unmanned ships based on autonomy levels with ICAO’s operation-centred and risk-based approach for unmanned aircraft. IMO’s regulations for unmanned ships are based on levels of autonomy. Although this approach offers some advantages, it may impose limitations in keeping pace with technological progress. On the other hand, ICAO’s approach offers flexible and adaptable regulations by grouping operations according to risk levels. This method offers the ability to adapt to the rapidly changing aviation industry. ICAO’s operation-centred approach could be an inspiration for IMO. This approach ensures that regulations are flexible, adaptable and risk orientated. It can also facilitate rapid adaptation to new technologies and the updating of operational standards. In conclusion, international regulatory approaches are of great importance in the process of establishing legal regulations for unmanned vehicles. ICAO’s operation-centred and risk-based approach can guide IMO’s
regulations for unmanned ships. Analysing similar approaches in both sectors can help to develop future regulations in a more effective and harmonised manner.