Institute Promoted Research
The IISTL promotes research into key issues of importance in international shipping and trade law, through the activities of its individual members, as well as on a collective basis. Chief among these initiatives is the busy programme of colloquia and symposia on contemporary developments organised by the Institute. Smaller research seminars are also convened, where guest speakers are invited to address the Institute staff and guests. For example, in 2018, the IISTL organised a round table discussion with experts from China and Turkey on autonomous ships and liability regimes. A similar workshop was held in Swansea in 2019 with academics from Dalian Maritime University (China). In 2022 and 2023 joint seminars with UCL were held on Greentech and Regulation and Legal Position with regard to Autonomous Vessels.
PhD students and visiting fellows are also given an encouraging and supportive platform to present work in progress and to play a full role in the academic discourse within the IISTL. The Institute also embraces interdisciplinary research and welcomes the participation of specialists from other disciplines. Recently, Professors Leloudas, Soyer and Tettenborn were involved in an interdisciplinary study on autonomous shipping with researchers from Computer Science department of York University. Also, Professors Leloudas and Soyer engaged in interdisciplinary research on IUU fishing and insurance implications with researchers from University of British Columbia (Canada). The study, funded by the Waterloo Foundation, found that it had been disconcertingly easy for vessels involved in IUU fishing to get liability insurance in the market. It recommended an urgent review of underwriting processes and consideration of regulatory changes to put insurers under a legal duty to deny cover to vessels known to be connected with IUU activities.
The IISTL Research Library also provides an outstanding body of research materials for its members and visiting scholars to consult. Several academics and research students visit us each year.
