Constitution or Compass? A Quiet Renegotiation of the Maritime Order
Vito De Lucia
In June 2026, the China Institute for Marine Affairs published a substantial assessment of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Assessment Report
Crimean Coastal State Rights and the Resilience of International Arbitration
Introduction
On 15 June 2026, the Permanent Court of Arbitration published its merits award in Ukraine v. the Russian Federation concerning coastal state rights in the Black Sea, Sea of Azov, and Kerch Strait (PCA Case No. 2017-06). The award
Contracting Sovereignty? Greece’s Experiment with the Contractual Allocation of Maritime Delimitation Risk in Offshore Lease Agreements
In February 2026, Greece signed offshore lease agreements with a Chevron-led consortium for the exploration of oil and gas south of Crete. A month later, the agreements were ratified by the Greek Parliament, thereby acquiring binding force in domestic law.
The Iran War and International Shipping: Navigating Disruption and Legal Risk in the International Shipping and Logistics Industries
Keith B. Letourneau, Natalie M. Radabaugh, and G. Evan Spencer ● The escalation of armed conflict involving the United States, Israel, Iran, and certain Gulf states following coordinated U.S.-Israeli airstrikes in late February 2026 has significantly and immediately impacted international shipping
Trump Administration Issues 60-Day Jones Act Waiver Amid the Iran War
Keith B. Letourneau, Natalie M. Radabaugh, and G. Evan Spencer ● Based on a request by the Department of War, the Trump Administration announced a 60-day limited waiver of the Jones Act (46 U.S.C. § 55102) on March 17, 2026, in
Navigating U.S. Arrival: A Guide for Vessels on Port Entry and Inspections on Arrival
Luke M. Reid, Jeanne M. Grasso, Matthew J. Thomas, and Holli B. Packer ● When a vessel arrives in a U.S. port, its owners, operators, and crew face a complex regulatory environment. The United States presents challenges for vessels because U.S.
Two Carnival Cruise Ship Passengers Arrested for Child Sexual Exploitation Offenses
Federal grand juries have indicted Christopher Michael Lawhon, 36, and Tajareia Lawon Aikee Blackwell, 25, on separate child sexual exploitation charges after federal agents discovered child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on their cell phones.
One Step Forward, Two Steps Obscure: Jurisdiction over External Rules in M/T Heroic Idun (No.2)
On 27 May 2026, the ITLOS Special Chamber rendered its judgment in M/T Heroic Idun (No. 2). Brought by the Marshall Islands against Equatorial Guinea, the case concerns the lawfulness of the latter’s arrest and detention of the vessel
Briefing: the duty of refugee sea rescue in international law
Six U.S. Cruise Passengers Fined $47K After Nassau Cruise Port Brawl Injures Four Bahamian Officers
Five American tourists are in custody after a confrontation linked to Nassau Cruise Port escalated at a police station and left four officers injured, Bahamian police said.