"...the only textbook which covers all aspects of shipping law from the Australian point of view...for litigator(s) or transport lawyers(s) ... the first book to consult when a shipping problem arises." Michael Gronow, barrister, on the 3rd Edition, Law Institute Journal, March 2005.
"It is encyclopaedic in its coverage and is recommended to anyone who is involved in any way with the preparation of documents with respect to ships or with disputes involving them." Justice Peter Young, on the 3rd Edition, (2005) 79 Australian Law Journal 649.
Shipping Law is the landmark work in its field and provides comprehensive coverage of all aspects of maritime law from a uniquely Australian perspective. Commonly-occurring maritime law issues such as ship financing, insurance and liability are dealt with in useful detail alongside more occasional matters concerning pollution from ships, shipwrecks and the salvage of vessels.
The Fifth Edition of this well-respected text on Australian maritime law reflects captures the many developments that have occurred since the last edition published in 2016 and includes comparative reference to English and American law.
It considers three fundamental developments that will change the whole environment of shipping over the next decade:
- Impacts of new technology on the way ships operate and on international carriage, particularly how the advent of blockchain technology has facilitated the use of electronic negotiable bills of lading;
- The rapid development of autonomous and remotely-controlled vessels and the way this impacts existing international conventions; and
- Amendment of the MARPOL convention to apply to carbon emissions effective from 2023, with legally enforceable targets for carbon reduction that have to be met by 2030.
Other new developments include:
- Case law on cross-border insolvency, arising from the impacts of the Cross-Border Insolvency Act 2008 (Cth) on maritime liens;
- The 2016 decision by the Full Court of the Federal Court on recognition of foreign maritime liens, in Reiter Petroleum v Ship Sam Hawk;
- The 2018 decision by the NSW Court of Appeal relating to “house” bills of lading issued by freight forwarders, in Cro Solutions Pty Ltd v Australia Capital Financial Management Pty Ltd;
- Multiple decisions on ship registration, arising from Re Coco Saba Pty Ltd, Motor Yacht Sales Australia Pty Ltd v Megisti Yacht Charters Ltd, and Mentink v Registrar of Australian Register of Ships;
- The 2018 decision by the Federal Court in The Thor Commander affecting several areas, including the passing of rights under straight bills of lading, seaworthiness obligations under voyage charterparties, bills of lading, and salvage;
- The question of incorporating charterparty terms into bills of lading; and
- Divergence between Australian and UK law on matters of marine insurance.
Shipping Law Fifth Edition is an authoritative and invaluable resource for maritime law practitioners, maritime insurers and organisations involved in transporting goods by sea.
Commercial & Business Law