REDEFINING SHIPOWNER’S DUTY IN LAW OF SEA (LOS) ERA

The ratification of the UNCLOS acclaimed a revolution in the international maritime order by completely changing the parameters within which the laws of the ocean were governed. In this era of "LOS" law, the obligations and liabilities of the shipowner have transcended the narrow scope of their traditional roles in commercial transportation and basic seaworthiness that had been the hallmark of the nineteenth century. The purpose of this research is to examine the new shipowner's duties in the face of modern environmental requirements, technological integration, and changed notions of liability. Using a wide variety of resources, ranging from UN treaties to the Nautical Institute's guidelines to legal analysis to precedent, the paper highlights the shift from local and private liability structures to broader public and international duties. Applying a qualitative method of regulatory mapping and comparative analysis, the study explores how pressures for decarbonization, digitization of supply chains, and increased flag-state responsibilities have made exponential changes to a shipowner's duty of care.It can be clearly seen from the results that the contemporary ship owner is no longer simply an operator of his business but a person who is extensively regulated with respect to the protection of marine environment, safety at sea, and cybersecurity. In order to cope with the growing and diversifying responsibilities, the author suggests a new approach to compliance.