Honorary Associate Professor David Letts AM CSM and Honorary Professor Robert McLaughlin's new co-edited collection is primarily aimed at students, practitioners and scholars who research or provide advice in relation to law of the sea and maritime security law.
Our interest in these issues stems from our prior lives in the Royal Australian Navy and our ongoing interest in researching, writing and teaching about law of the sea and maritime security issues.
Honorary Associate Professor David Letts AM CSM and Honorary Professor Robert McLaughlin have co-edited a new collection that dives into the legal depths of maritime law and security.
Maritime Operations Law in Practice: Key Cases and Incidents (Routledge, 2023) provides, for the first time in one volume, critical analysis of legal issues arising from some of the most famous and influential cases and incidents at sea.
Drawing upon their academic expertise and backgrounds in the Royal Australian Navy, Professor Letts and Professor McLaughlin cover the entire spectrum of maritime operations in this ground-breaking book.
In our Q&A, the co-editors provide an overview of their collection and its broader implications for maritime operations law.
What does your new book fundamentally explore and what inspired you to co-edit this collection?
This book brings together, for the first time, critical analysis of the legal issues arising from a series of maritime cases and incidents that are well known among law of the sea and maritime security law scholars and practitioners.
Our interest in these issues stems from our prior lives in the Royal Australian Navy and our ongoing interest in researching, writing and teaching about law of the sea and maritime security issues. Most of the contributing authors have a navy or government law background and their analysis is guided by a desire to present the information in each chapter in a way that will be of practical use to the reader.
How does it impact current events, debates or academic controversies?
The cases and incidents in the book have continued relevance for modern maritime disputes, including the issues that are at play in the South China Sea.
Can you share more about the ANU Law connections (e.g. contributors) to this book?
Most of the contributing authors for the collection have either held academic appointments at the ANU College of Law, been official visitors to the College during the past decade, or studied for a postgraduate degree here. Funding for the research that we undertook while writing our chapters was mainly provided by ANU Law.
What do you hope readers will gain from your book?
The book is primarily aimed at students, practitioners and scholars who research or provide advice in relation to law of the sea and maritime security law.
Why is this book a timely read?
Well, with international travel now available once again, what could be better reading on a flight from Australia, over water, to anywhere in the world!
How does this edition build upon previous editions of the book?
No previous edition, but plans are already underway for Volume 2.
Purchase your own copy of Maritime Operations Law in Practice: Key Cases and Incidentshere. For the month of April 2023, you can receive 20% off the total price of the collection.
