For a Future-Proofed Law of the Sea: Challenges and Opportunities Emerging from the Rapid Development of Technology

In light of the recent technological developments such as artificial intelligence, space exploration technologies, etc., the urgent need to adopt a sustainable approach to laws and policies is now widely recognized. It is undoubtedly a contentious issue to make the law of the sea future-proofed and future-focused. The need to re-evaluate the maritime legal system is, however, more pressing than ever. This paper will analyze the current and future intersection between the law of the sea and new technologies and will focus on ways to develop a forward-looking and more future-proofed framework for the law of the sea. The study will raise questions about the extent and the capability of the legal imagination to match technological development. It will suggest how to rethink the current legal framework in a way that lawmakers and scientists closely work together to prevent maritime security issues. Consequently, it will not only focus on how to make the law of the sea future-proofed but also how to make its provisions future-oriented and in line with technological advances.