The Lookout provides readers with a snapshot of some important developments in maritime law and the maritime industry that are being monitored by the Admiralty, Maritime & Energy Litigation Practice at Lewis Brisbois.
Congressional Research Service Released Its Study on Changes in the Arctic
In January 2018, the Congressional Research Service released a study entitled "Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress." The 110-page comprehensive study comes as the Arctic sea ice has diminished, which, in turn, has allowed for increased commercial activity in the region. The study noted record low Arctic sea ice over the past decade and projected ice-free seasons in the Arctic in the coming decades. Notably, the study said that commercial shipping through the Arctic could increase as well as exploration for oil, gas, and tourism, which increases the risk of pollution in the region. Moreover, cleaning up oil spills would be more difficult in the Arctic. Additionally, the Arctic is increasingly being viewed as a potential emerging security issue. The United States, by virtue of Alaska, is an Arctic country with substantial interests in the region. The remaining Arctic coastal states: Canada, Russia, Norway and Denmark also have interests in the region. A link to the full study is here.
Naval Commanders Charged with Negligent Homicide
In mid-January 2018, the U.S. Navy announced that the commanding officers of the two vessels - the USS FITZGERALD and the USS JOHN S. MCCAIN - involved in separate collisions in the Pacific Ocean last summer will face court-martial proceedings and possible criminal charges including negligent homicide. Both destroyers collided with ships three times their size in gross tonnage and killed 17 U.S. sailors. The commanding officers face "dereliction of duty" and "hazarding a vessel" charges as well. More information can be found here.
Given the gravity of these collisions and the repercussions, it remains to be seen whether these incidents will substantively change rules of navigations and general safety at sea.
Maersk and IBM Announce Blockchain Joint Venture
On January 16, 2018, Maersk and IBM announced that they intend to establish a joint venture that will apply blockchain technology "to improve global trade and digitize supply chains." Their stated aim is to "address the need to provide more transparency and simplicity in the movement of goods across borders and trading zones." This announcement comes after Maersk announced that it is partnering with Ernst & Young and Microsoft to create a blockchain platform to address marine insurance. The January announcement can be found here.
Maersk is a global leader in shipping and has recently experienced data security breaches, so it makes sense that their efforts in implementing blockchain will impact the greater global maritime industry.
Other Maritime Technology News
In mid-February 2018, Maersk's 53-year-old CEO Soren Skou stated, in regards to unmanned ships, that there was no more room to get rid of humans and that even with technology advances, he does not think unmanned ships "will be a driver of efficiency, not in my lifetime." The source article can be found here.
However, Mr. Skou is concerned about companies like Amazon and Alibaba becoming shipping competitors. He stated that "Amazon is a threat if we don't do a good job for them. Here is the source article.
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