Eyeing the anomalies of port law

Called Portius, the new organisation bills itself as “the world’s first institution to specialise in the study of the law of both maritime and inland ports”.

Outlining a complex area, the organisation notes that port law is essential to the functioning of these traditional gateways to global trade. “In a fascinating way, port law combines port-related aspects of maritime and transport law, international law of the sea, public law, economic law, labour law, environmental law and various other branches of the law,” said chairman Prof Van Hooydonk.

Portius is hosted by the Maritime Institute of Ghent University, and the College of Europe (from both Bruges and Natolin-Warsaw in Poland), but will be using English as its chosen language.

The organisation encompasses a network of specialist port lawyers working in the port, academic and legal sectors as well as calling on a number of other organisations. For example, the initiative is actively supported by the port authorities of Ghent and Zeebrugge.

Portius intends to offer specialised educational programmes and to organise events on topical issues in port law. Kicking off its bill on October 13, Portius is organising an international update seminar on places of refuge for ships in need of assistance at Ghent University. Details can be found on www.portius.org.