Untethering UMVs from Vessels: Why the United States Should Construct A New Environmental Legal Scheme for Unmanned Maritime Vehicles

The application of international and domestic laws and regulations, and in particular those addressing environmental protections related to the world’s oceans, have no clear application to unmanned maritime vehicles (UMVs). Instead, legal scholars have attempted to fit UMVs into current legal schemes in a piece-meal manner that UMVs practically and realistically cannot comply with. UMVs are inherently different than their manned counterparts, and therefore require a unique legal framework separate and apart from manned vessels. Without its own legal scheme, the U.S. Navy and other organizations will not be able to realize the full potential of UMVs—not only for their military operational advantages, but their significant environmental advantages as well. Thus, the United States should carefully construct a new legal regime for UMVs. By leading the way for the international community, the United States can effectively ensure proper legal recognition and widespread deployment of UMVs on both a domestic and international scale while also upholding strong environmental protection policies.

Author

• McCarl, Lindsay

Language

• en

Keyword

• environmental law
• unmanned maritime vehicles
• international law
• vessels
• military law
• navy

Date created

• 2021

Type of Work

• Master's Thesis

License

• All rights reserved

Rights statement

• In Copyright

GW Unit

• Law

Degree

• LL.M.

Advisor

• Harmon-Walker, Lin

Persistent URL

•  https://scholarspace.library.gwu.edu/etd/2n49t2580