Autonomous surface vessels (MASS) are a disruptive innovation in maritime technology, but their deployment poses significant legal challenges in the field of international law of the sea. This article examines, within the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the exercise of jurisdiction and effective flag state control over MASS, especially in situations where the Remote Operations Centre (ROC) is outside the territorial jurisdiction of the flag state. Through a doctrinal and normative analysis of existing international instruments and recent International Maritime Organisation proposals, the main regulatory gaps are identified and the challenges arising from the absence of physical crew and the decentralisation of operational control are assessed. The results show that these circumstances hinder the application of the genuine link required by UNCLOS, generate uncertainty in the attribution of responsibilities and complicate compliance with the flag state's international obligations. It is concluded that the regulatory framework needs to be adapted and clarified to ensure the legal and operational security of MASS, strengthen oversight mechanisms and guarantee the protection of state interests and the integrity of the international maritime system in the face of the growing integration of these technologies.

Rising sea levels and increasing storm wave heights are two clear indicators of climate change affecting coastal environments worldwide. Coastal cities and infrastructure are particularly vulnerable to these hazards, highlighting the need for accurate predictions and effective adaptation and resilience strategies to protect human lives and economic activities. This study focuses on the Andalusia coast of southern Spain, from Cádiz to Almería, analyzing twelve years of sea level and wave height records using an Extreme Value Analysis. A key challenge lies in selecting the most suitable statistical distribution for long-term predictions. To address this, we propose a modified application of the Cramér–Rao Lower Bound and compare it with the Akaike Information Criteria and the Bayesian Information Criteria. Our results indicate that sea level extremes generally follow a Gumbel distribution, while wave height extremes align more closely with the Fisher–Tippett I distribution. Additionally, a high-resolution digital elevation model of the Navantia Puerto Real shipyard, generated with LiDAR scanning, was used to identify flood-prone areas and assess potential operational impacts. This approach allows for the development of practical recommendations for enhancing infrastructure resilience. The main contribution of this work includes the estimation of extreme regimes for sea level and wave stations, a novel and more efficient application of the Cramér–Rao Lower Bound, a comparative analysis with Bayesian criteria, and providing recommendations to improve the resilience of shipyard operations.