The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has urged the judiciary to prepare for a new generation of maritime disputes arising from autonomous ships, digital shipping, and the global transition to cleaner maritime transport.
In a statement on Wednesday, Oyetola stated this in Abuja during his keynote address at the 18th International Maritime Seminar for Judges organised by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and the National Judicial Institute.
Oyetola said the rapid evolution of maritime technology was creating unprecedented legal questions around liability, “navigational responsibility, insurance, collision regulations, and the allocation of responsibility when autonomous vessels or their systems fail.”
The Minister said the digitalisation of shipping through electronic bills of lading, blockchain-enabled cargo documentation, and digital freight contracts was transforming global commerce while creating “fresh evidentiary, contractual, and jurisdictional issues.”
“The prospect of vessels operating with limited or no human crews raises fundamental questions concerning liability, navigational responsibility,
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