Innovation in the legal and regulatory framework for Russian maritime autonomous surface ships

The technology of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) has developed rapidly. Intelligent shipping has become the frontier of global maritime technology. It has also become the focus of international competition. However,existing laws and regulations systems lag behind technological iterations. This severely restricts the large-scale application of MASS. It also hinders the commercial promotion of MASS. To address this challenge,Russia took the lead in building the world's first systematic and operational national legal and regulatory framework for MASS starting in 2020. Normative text analysis and comparative institutional analysis methods were adopted in this paper. The core composition of Russia's MASS legislative system was systematically reviewed. Its implementation mechanisms were also examined. The research focus included the connection path between strategy and legislation. It was analyzed how the Presidential National Technology Initiative was translated into specific legal revisions through the " Action Plan to Improve Legislation and Eliminate Administrative Barriers. " Key institutional design was tracked. Revisions to core laws such as the " Merchant Shipping Code," the " Inland Water Transport Code," and the " Port Law" were examined. Institutional arrangements for MASS definition and classification,personnel qualifications,operational norms,liability allocation,and safety standards were analyzed. The implementation promotion strategy was investigated. Its phased legislative implementation model of " limited water area pilot-gradual coastal promotion " was examined. Research shows that Russia' s legislative process presents distinctive characteristics. These characteristics are " strategy-led,legislative coordination,pilot-first,safety-backed,and international alignment. " These features make the system both forward-looking and adaptable. This practice provides important reference for China. It holds significant reference value for building an intelligent shipping governance system that ensures safety while promoting innovation.