ABSTRACT
In the last decade an intensive development of systems aiming to allow autonomous maritime units free movement on the water bodies has become noticeable. In the preparation of legal, technical and organisational standards, a fundamental role is being played by IMO (International Maritime Organization). In May of year 2021, a conclusion has been announced of a research concerning the regulatory range in the MASS (Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships) case. In the longer perspective MSC IMO Committee agreed to produce and publish until year 2025, a document focusing on the unmanned units, including objectives, functional requirements and adequate rules for the autonomous ships, so-called MASS Code. It is going to be a foundation for an amendment of the international deals and conventions, including the most important Convention on the Law of the Sea. Coincidentally the changes have to include legal documents of particular countries and in this regard the crucial ones for Poland will be: “Maritime security act of 18th august 2011” and “Sea territories of the Republic of Poland and maritime administration act of 21st march 1991”. A conducted amendment of the “Sea territories of the Republic of Poland and maritime administration act” allows the director of maritime office to temporarily seclude the seafaring and fishery on the sea territories, on which there are going to be conducted tests of the autonomous ships and to determine the rules of conducting such tests.
A reorganisation must also include the method of ships management in ports, which raises the necessity of introducing a digital platform, directing the processes taking place in harbours. A solution dedicated for the management of ships in ports is a PCS system (Port Community System), which provides a full digitalisation and automatisation of port processes. The cited solution has been worked out based on the guidelines of the IPCSA Association (International Port Community Systems Association), an organisation that commits ports possessing said system. Polish ports of fundamental importance for the national economy have begun to introduce the PCS system.
