IISTL Brings the Global Shipping Community to Swansea

In keeping with the tradition of the Colloquium, this year's event focused on a specific area of shipping and commercial law. The principal theme for 2026 was geopolitical and regulatory developments affecting international shipping and trade, alongside significant legal and doctrinal developments in maritime law more broadly.

The papers presented generated lively debate and highlighted a substantial number of novel and important legal questions arising from rapidly evolving regulatory and commercial environments. The event attracted an exceptional line-up of speakers from the United Kingdom, Europe and beyond, reflecting the Colloquium's reputation as one of the leading forums for discussion of contemporary shipping law. As in previous years, the programme successfully combined academic scholarship with practical industry expertise, ensuring that discussions remained both intellectually rigorous and commercially relevant.

One of the standout features of this year's Colloquium was the extensive discussion that followed every session. Delegates attending both in person and online engaged actively with speakers, contributing thoughtful observations and challenging questions that enriched the debate and underlined the continuing significance of these issues for the maritime community.

The following papers were presented at the event:

• Geopolitics at Sea: Preserving Legal Predictability for Global Shipping (Dr Lia Amaxialti, Senior Legal Adviser, International Chamber of Commerce, London)  
• Freedom of Navigation, Flag-State Jurisdiction and the Limits of Maritime Enforcement (Alexandra Couvadelli, Vice President of Gard (UK) Ltd, London)
• Seizure of Tankers under International Law on the High Seas (Prof Simon Baughen, IISTL, Swansea University)
• Nuclear Energy in Shipping: Prospects and Legal Issues (Professor Lia Athanasiou, University of Athens, Greece)
• Regulatory Measures on Decarbonization (Keith Krut, Founding Partner of Hannaford Turner LLP, London)
• Contractual and Commercial Issues in Connection with Emission Legislation for Shipping (Rachel Hoyland, Of Counsel, Stephenson Harwood, London)
• Are Limitation Claims Different (Nigel Cooper KC, Quadrant Chambers, London)
• The Limits of Limitation- Exploring the Boundaries (David Walsh KC, Essex Court Chambers, London)
• Letters of Indemnity Issued under Charterparties (John Weale, Chairman on BIMCO Sub-Committee on GENCON)
• Mis-delivery Claims (Stefan Tavares, Legal Director, Preston Turnbull LLP, London)
• Deviation in Carriage Contracts- The Future of the Doctrine (Professor B. Soyer, IISTL, Swansea University)
• Booking Notes: Where Does P & I Cover Begin and End? (Natalie Campbell, Fleet Manager, Britannia P & I Club, London)
• The Co-Financing of Green Vessels: A Legal Introduction to Maritime Debt Structuring (Professor Oliver Cachard, University of Lorraine, France)
• When is A Bareboat Charter? (Prof Andrew Tettenborn, IISTL, Swansea University)
• Knock-for knock Contracts and Dangerous Carve-Outs (James Addison, Claims Director, NorthStandard P & I Club)
• Insurability of Fines (Joanne Sharma, Head of Americas Claims at Steamship Insurance Management Services Ltd, London)
• Insurance, Sanctions and Compliance (Lucy Keane FCI Arb, Normanton Chambers, London)

Speaking after the event, Professor Soyer, Director of the IISTL, said:

"I was delighted by both the exceptional quality of the papers presented and the active contribution of delegates throughout the Colloquium. The discussions that followed each session demonstrated the continued importance of academic and professional engagement on the issues currently shaping international shipping and maritime commerce.

I am particularly grateful to our session chairs, namely Michael Biltoo (Partner, DWF Law), Dr Tabetha Kurtz-Shefford (IISTL, Swansea University), Simon Rainey KC (Quadrant Chambers), Mohiuddin Abdul Kadir (President, MCLaw Services), The Honourable Mr Justice Andrew Baker, and Professor George Leloudas (IISTL, Swansea University), whose expertise and guidance were instrumental in ensuring the success of the event.

We are also enormously grateful to Informa Law for its continuing support and generous sponsorship of the Colloquium. Following our longstanding tradition, the papers presented at the event will be published in book form by Informa Law in 2027. Contributors will be given time to reflect on the discussions, comments and observations generated during the Colloquium before submitting their final chapters for publication."