Week-long seminar on International Maritime Law at maritime university

The programme – to strengthen national capacity in maritime governance – was inaugurated by Justice KR Shriram, Former Chief Justice of the High Courts of Madras and Rajasthan. Also present at the inauguration were Justice Mohan Peiris, former Chief Justice of Sri Lanka; Vice Admiral (retired) G Ashok Kumar and Prof S Shanthakumar, Provost of Gujarat Maritime University and Director of Gujarat National Law University.

In his address, Justice KR Shriram emphasised the specialised nature of maritime law. “Maritime Law is a niche subject. Prior to the Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Act, 2017, only three High Courts—Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras—had admiralty jurisdiction. The 2017 Act has extended this jurisdiction to High Courts in all coastal states. However, many lawyers and judges remain unfamiliar with the nuances of maritime law. GMU should organise such programmes not only for students but also for bureaucrats, legal professionals and the judiciary,” a release by GMU quoted him as saying.

Prof S Shanthakumar, Provost of GMU, said, “Without maritime law, the smooth functioning of global supply chains would be impossible—it provides certainty, predictability, and justice in an industry spanning multiple jurisdictions and involving billions of dollars in transactions daily. For India, with its extensive coastline and ambitious maritime development plans, a strong maritime legal framework is essential.”