Center for Law of the Sea and International Maritime Law
Research Field
Juei-Cheng Jao is a professor of Maritime and Ocean Law at National Taiwan Ocean University, where he is affiliated with the Institute of the Law of the Sea and the Centre for International Maritime Law and Policy. His research focuses on international maritime law, the law of the sea, and the governance of emerging maritime technologies, with particular emphasis on maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS), liability and insurance
regimes, and the legal protection of critical maritime infrastructure such as submarine cables. Professor Jao has served as principal investigator and advisor on multiple government-funded research projects and policy initiatives, including regulatory reform and institutional design in the fields of maritime safety, digital governance, and ocean policy. His work bridges doctrinal legal analysis with comparative and policy-oriented approaches, and his scholarship has been published in leading international journals in maritime and public international law. He also regularly contributes expert advice to governmental bodies and participates in international academic and policy dialogues on contemporary maritime governance.
The Centre for International Maritime Law and Policy is a research unit dedicated to the study of contemporary challenges in maritime governance, with a particular focus on international maritime law, the law of the sea, and emerging regulatory issues arising from technological and geopolitical change. The Centre conducts interdisciplinary legal research addressing maritime safety, liability and insurance, maritime autonomous surface ships
(MASS), digital and cyber dimensions of maritime governance, and the legal protection of critical maritime infrastructure, including submarine communication cables. The Centre places strong emphasis on policy-oriented and problem-driven research, bridging doctrinal legal analysis with comparative, empirical, and governance-based approaches. Its work frequently supports governmental policy design, regulatory reform, and institutional capacity-building in the maritime sector. Through collaboration with domestic and international academic partners, public authorities, and policy institutions, the Centre aims to contribute practical, legally grounded solutions to the evolving governance needs of the global maritime domain.
International Maritime Law and the Law of the Sea
Doctrinal and interpretive analysis of key instruments of international maritime law and the law of the sea, including flag State obligations, coastal State jurisdiction, and the evolving role of due diligence in maritime governance.
Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS)
Legal and regulatory challenges arising from autonomous and remotely operated vessels, with particular emphasis on seaworthiness, liability attribution, limitation of liability, and the interaction between international conventions and domestic regulatory frameworks.
Maritime Liability, Insurance, and Risk Allocation
Examination of civil liability regimes, limitation conventions, compulsory insurance mechanisms, and risk distribution in conventional and technologically enhanced maritime operations.
Protection of Critical Maritime Infrastructure
Legal frameworks governing the protection of submarine communication cables and other critical maritime infrastructure, including preventive governance, State practice, and the integration of maritime security and cyber regulation.
Digital and AI-Enabled Maritime Governance
Regulatory implications of artificial intelligence, data-driven monitoring, and digital technologies in maritime administration, enforcement, and compliance, including hybrid maritime–cyber governance models.
Comparative and Policy-Oriented Maritime Regulation
Comparative analysis of common law and civil law approaches to maritime regulation, with a focus on regulatory reform, institutional design, and policy
implementation in response to emerging maritime risks.
1. 2025: Outstanding Academic Teacher Award, National Taiwan Ocean
University
2. 2025: Research Advancement Award, National Taiwan Ocean University
3. 2025 Golden Gull Award for Model Maritime and Port Professionals, 71st Maritime Day, Republic of China (2025)
4. Excellent Teaching Award, 2020, College of Ocean Law and Policy, National Taiwan Ocean University
5. Outstanding Research Award, 2018, National Taiwan Ocean University
6. Excellent Teaching Award, 2008, College of Law, National University of Kaohsiung
Journal Papers (Past five years and up to date):
1. Juei-Cheng Jao, Chiao-Wen Lin, Pin-Chien Chen, Yi-Cheng Chang, Yi- Juen Chen, Wen-Hong Liu, Development of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) marine scientific research model: the case of marine science and technology policy and its legitimate practice in Taiwan, Marine Policy
(SSCI Q1), Volume 185, March 2026, 106996.
2. Juei-Cheng Jao, Jason C.T. Chuah*, Artificial Intelligence in Negotiating Energy Production and Other Interests in Marine Spatial Planning-Managing Transparency and BIAS, The Journal of World Energy Law &
Business (SSCI Q2/ Scopus), November 2025, Accepted.
3. Juei-Cheng Jao*, Muhammad Hanzla Alvi, Greening the Maritime Sector through Autonomous Shipping: Rethinking Safety, Liability, and
Regulatory Frameworks, Coastal Management (SSCI Q3/ Scopus), November 2025, Accepted.
4. Juei-Cheng Jao, An Interpretation of Article 62, Article 69, and Article 70 Paragraph 2 of the Maritime Law with respect to shipowners, The Taiwan Law Review, No.277, November 2025, Pages 21-23.
5. Juei-Cheng Jao, Basis of Carrier’s Liability for Damages in Fixed-Route Marine Transportation and the Supplementary Law to Maritime Law: A Commentary on Taiwan High Court 2023 Insurance Civil Appeal No. 8, The Taiwan Law Review, No. 157, pp. 36-49.
6. Juei-Cheng Jao, What Constitutes a Ship under Maritime Law: A Three- Stage Examination, The Taiwan Law Review, No.270, April 2025, Pages 35-39.
7. Juei-Cheng Jao, How to Break the Limit on the Total Liability of Shipowners: Intent or Negligence of the Individual, The Taiwan Law Review, No. 266, December 2024, Pages 34-38.
8. Juei-Cheng Jao, Jason C.T. Chuah, Cybersecurity Risks of Automated (and Autonomous) Offshore Oil and Gas Units—the IMO Cybersecurity
Rules Framework, The Journal of World Energy Law & Business(SSCI/ Scopus), October 2024, Pages 1–10.
9. Juei-Cheng Jao, The Effect of Abandonment: Transfer of Ownership, Transfer of All Rights, or Transfer of Property Rights? The Taiwan Law Review, No. 261,July 2024, Pages 40-43.
10. Juei-Cheng Jao, The duty of the obligation of seaworthiness, The Taiwan Law Review, No. 256, Feb 2024, Pages 27-29.
11. Juei-Cheng Jao, The Principle of transferring ownership of the ship and registration effectiveness, The Taiwan Law Review, No. 253, Nov 2023, Pages 30-33.
12. Juei-Cheng Jao, Jason C.T. Chuah FRSA, Cyber and AI security challenges for LNG maritime transport and terminals—responses in law and standards, The Journal of World Energy Law & Business (SSCI/Scopus), Volume 16, Issue 4, August 2023, Pages 354–366.
13. Juei-Cheng Jao, The distribution and adjustment of the burden of proof violates the obligation of seaworthiness, The Taiwan Law Review, No. 246, April 2023, Pages 31-36.
14. Juei-Cheng Jao, The legal nature of Maritime Act, Article 56, Paragraph 1” A statute of limitations, the period of preemption or prosecution?” The Taiwan Law Review, No. 238, Aug 2022, Pages 37-40.
15. Huey-Shian Elly Chung, Juei-Cheng Jao, Improving marine protected area governance: Concerns and possible solutions from Taiwan’s practice, Marine Policy (SSCI), Volume 140, June 2022, 105078.
16. Binding of a bill of Lading: The basis argument of the interaction between international law and domestic law, The Taiwan Law Review, No. 233, Mar 2022, Pages 27-31.
17. Juei-Cheng Jao, The observation of maritime law, insurance and policy: The case of the Evergreen container ship, Ever Given, The Taiwan Law Review, No. 224, Jun 2021, Pages 52-60.
18. Juei-Cheng Jao, The applicable law of a foreign-related ship collision incident, The Taiwan Law Review, No. 222, April 2021, Pages 28-31.
19. Juei-Cheng Jao, The nature of charterparty: A contract of carriage or a contract of lease? The Taiwan Law Review, No. 211, May 2020, Pages
32-35.
Conference papers during the past five years and up to date:
1. Juei-Cheng Jao, Action in Rem Against AI Autonomous Ship: A Solution for Civil Liability Arising Therefrom? 2023 The 8th International Conference on Ocean Law & Policy: AI Impact on International Maritime Law, Oct 13th, 2023.
2. Juei-Cheng Jao, The Law Strategies to Build up Taiwan as the International Maritime Disputes Resolution Center, 2021 The 6th International Conference on Ocean Law & Policy: High-End Maritime Industry—A Law & Policy Prospect, Oct. 27th, 2021.
Ph.D. in Law, University of Manchester, U.K.
Job Description
1. Conducting the research project
2. Providing regular updates
3. Analyzing material on maritime law and policy
4. Use research results to write reports, papers, and reviews
5. present findings in journals and conferences
6. Assist in the preparation of international seminars or conferences.
7. Assist in building and maintaining international links and partnerships with foreign universities.
Preferred Intern Educational Level
Currently studying for master's or doctoral degrees in law with focus on marine related disciplines is preferred.
Skill sets or Qualities
1. Currently studying for master's and doctoral degrees in law and marine related disciplines
2. Ability to plan and manage research projects
3. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
**If students are interested in applying for this internship, to previously let us know more about your research abilities. Please submit a research proposal as an attached file when you fill out this internship application. The topic of the proposal needs to be related to "The Legal Impact of AI in International Maritime Law” and it would be one of the main finished research projects during your internship period. The proposal would include the research topic, introduction (research background and motivation, purpose, research scope, etc.), and literature review for more than one A4 page by file.
Job Description
1. Conducting the research project
2. Providing regular updates
3. Analyzing material on maritime law and policy
4. Use research results to write reports, papers, and reviews
5. present findings in journals and conferences
6. Assist in the preparation of international seminars or conference
7. Assist in Building and maintaining international links and partnerships with foreign universities.
Preferred Intern Educational Level
Currently studying for master's or doctoral degrees in law with focus on marine related disciplines is preferred.
Skill sets or Qualities
1. Currently studying for master's and doctoral degrees in law and marine related disciplines
2. Ability to plan and manage research projects
3. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
**If students are interested in applying for this internship, to previously let us know more about your research abilities. Please submit a research proposal as an attached file when you fill out this internship application. The topic of the proposal needs to be related to "The Legal Impact of AI in International Maritime Law” and it would be one of the main finished research projects during your internship period. The proposal would include the research topic, introduction (research background and motivation, purpose, research scope, etc.), and literature review for more than one A4 page by file.