Professor Elwen Evans QC opening the 16th Colloquium and the first session which was moderated by Sir Peter Gross (Speakers: Professor Andrew Tettenborn (IISTL), John Russell QC (Quadrant Chambers) and Professor Cachard (Lorraine University)).
The Institute of International Shipping and Trade Law (IISTL) held its 16th Colloquium on 10-11 September. The focus of the event was on two contemporary developments; disruptive technologies and climate change.
The objective of the event was to take a close look at the impact of these two vital developments on shipping law and practice. In particular, papers were submitted on: blockchain technology in shipping and marine insurance; drones and autonomous vessels in maritime law; autonomous systems and associated cyber risks; advance encryption as a protection against cyber risks; the human element in autonomous shipping; IP issues with regard to new technologies; international aspects of regulating climate change; shipping in the Arctic; EU and international aspects of climate change and US type law suits against oil majors.
The speakers and moderators were:
- Dr Lia Amaxilati, IISTL, Swansea University
- Professor Simon Baughen, IISTL, Swansea University
- Associate Professor Andrew Beale OBE, IISTL, Swansea University
- Professor Olivier Cachard, Emeritus Dean, University of Lorraine
- Dr Michael Chatzipanagiotis, Lecturer, University of Cyprus
- Mr Julian Clark, Senior Partner, Ince & Co
- Mr Paul Dean, Global Head of Shipping, HFW
- Professor Ellen J. Eftestøl, Professor of Civil and Commercial Law, University of Helsinki
- The Rt Hon Sir Peter Gross, Arbitrator, Twenty Essex
- Monica Kohli, Senior Lawyer, Gard
- Associate Professor George Leloudas, IISTL, Swansea University
- Dr Youri van Logchem, IISTL, Swansea University
- Dr Ewan McGaughey, Senior Lecturer, King’s College, London
- John Russell QC, Quadrant Chambers
- Professor Barış Soyer, Director, IISTL, Swansea University
- Professor Andrew Tettenborn, IISTL, Swansea University
- Professor Richard Williams, IISTL, Swansea University
Speaking after the event, Professor Soyer, the Director of the IISTL, said:
“The setting for this year’s event was obviously different but some things remained the same; interesting papers were presented by excellent speakers, the audience played its role by putting forward very interesting (and challenging) questions and Informa Law (Routledge) was our sponsor!
I was particularly delighted to see that the online version of our Colloquium attracted delegates from all around the world and we managed to reach lawyers, practitioners and academic colleagues who would normally find it difficult to come to our event when held in Swansea.
I am grateful to all of them for supporting our 16th Colloquium. I would also like to thank my colleagues at the IISTL who refused to allow even a global pandemic to stop our annual Colloquium by encouraging me to put the online version on.
The decision to run this year’s event online was taken late May and as a result of the great work of Lyn Ryland (our Events Co-ordinator) and Alicia Mckenzie (our Research Assistant), we managed to run an event with no technical problems, which attracted more than 100 delegates! I remain hopeful that we shall go back to normal for 2021.”