With the profound application of technologies of artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), and big data in the shipping industry, Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) are progressively transitioning from technical trials to commercial use. The core characteristics of MASS, namely crewless operations and system-led decision-making, present a systematic challenge to contemporary maritime law which has been fundamentally based on the framework of traditional crewed ships. Referencing the IMO’s draft MASS Code and China’s shipping practice, this paper argues that the traditional ‘requirement-effect’ structure of legal norms which relies on practical induction and focuses on legal remedies after an accident struggles to adapt to the inherent uncertainty of maritime technology trends. Therefore, this paper proposes that the implementation of the newly revised Maritime Code should further embrace the responsive implementation model utilizing ‘element-effect’ structure. Furthermore, within the statutory framework of the newly revised Maritime Code, this paper analyzes how the application of legal rules necessitates a responsive implementation model based on the ‘element-effect’ structure. First, it advocates for the adoption of ‘Quasi-X’ legal concepts to extend the scope of maritime law to encompass new legal subjects arising from autonomous ships. Second, it emphasizes the integration of maritime law and technology by transforming technical standards into legal obligations to provide logical support for specific system designs.
内容提要 随着人工智能、物联网、大数据等技术在航运业的深度应用，海上自主水面船舶正逐步从技术试验阶段迈向商业应用阶段。海上自主水面船舶的核心特征为无人化运营与系统主导决策，这对以传统有人船舶框架为根基的当代海商法形成了系统性挑战。本文结合国际海事组织《海上自主水面船舶规则》与中国航运实践展开研究，认为传统“要件—效果”型规范模式以实践归纳为基础、侧重事故后的法律救济，难以适配海事技术发展本身具有的不确定性特征。为此，本文提出采用回应型规范模式，以“要素—效果”结构替代传统规范模式。在具体的适用路径方面，通过引入“准X型”法律概念，将自主船舶催生的新型法律主体纳入海商法的规制范畴，同时强化海商法与海事技术的融合衔接，将技术标准转化为法律义务，为具体制度实施提供逻辑支撑。