Sailing Toward Sustainability: Legal Foundations For Responsible Maritime Development
Monika G, School of Law, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) University, Chennai Campus, Vandalur Road, Kelambakkam, Chennai- 600127, India
Vanmathi M, Assistant Professor, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) University Chennai Campus, Vandalur Road, Kelambakkam, Chennai- 600127, India
ABSTRACT
The world shipping industry is an integral part of international business; however, it experiences more and more pressure concerning environmental protection and technological innovations. In this regard, the present study explores the use of green technology and autonomous systems in maritime operations as a dual approach towards ensuring both sustainability and efficiency. The report emphasises the necessity of innovation to be able to cope with the challenges posed by the industry, namely, regulation, economy, and technology. Technologies that are used in maritime operations to reduce the environmental footprint include green fuels such as LNG and hydrogen, innovative vessel design and emission reduction systems. All these technologies contribute greatly to achieving international regulations such as IMO 2020 and the Paris Agreement. Therefore, apart from reducing the environmental impact, they also help the maritime industry to comply with the global decarbonization policy. At the same time, autonomous systems based on artificial intelligence and analytics help to improve navigation, port operations, and supply chain management.
However, some of the key issues that still exist and need to be tackled are high costs of implementation, risks of technology, and the need for regulation to be harmonized internationally. This paper is going to cover some of the most important areas in the maritime sector which have managed to integrate sustainability concepts in their practices, giving out relevant information regarding the issues mentioned above. It must be stated that the importance of cooperation between states and policy making for sustainability purposes is emphasized in this paper.
Keywords: Maritime Social Sustainability, Ship Flag, Shipping Business, International Survey, Green Technology, Emissions Reduction.
