HFW Helps BIMCO Draft Maritime Industry’s First Management Agreement For Autonomous Ships

Global, sector-focused law firm HFW has helped shipping organisation BIMCO draft the industry’s first management agreement for autonomous ships.

The ‘AUTOSHIPMAN’ agreement provides a standard contractual foundation for third-party ship managers to deliver services for the operation of remotely controlled or fully autonomous ships.

HFW was the only law firm on the drafting sub-committee. Its team included Gudmund Bernitz and Henry Clack.

HFW has previously supported BIMCO in drafting several industry standard contracts, including a series of “game-changing” clauses relating to decarbonisation.

HFW is widely recognised as the world’s leading shipping and maritime law firm, and has been serving clients in the industry for almost 140 years. The firm has more than 220 shipping lawyers and Master Mariners across its global network, specialising in dry shipping, admiralty and crisis management, and transactional work.