The “DEHUKAM Post-Graduate Research Conference on the Sea and Maritime Law-II” was successfully held virtually, bringing together postgraduate researchers working in the field of sea and maritime law.
The conference commenced with opening remarks delivered by Prof. Dr. Nil Kula, DEHUKAM Board Member and Leading Researcher and Prof. Dr. Yücel Acer, DEHUKAM Board Member and Leading Researcher, who underlined the importance of fostering academic dialogue and supporting postgraduate research in the field of sea and maritime law.
The conference aimed to provide a dedicated academic platform for postgraduate students to present their ongoing research, exchange views, and engage in scholarly discussion under the guidance of experienced academics.
The conference featured a keynote address delivered by Prof. Dr. Barış Soyer, Swansea University Institute of International Shipping and Trade Law Director, whose presentation offered valuable and practical guidance particularly for doctoral students. In his keynote speech, Prof. Dr. Soyer shared insightful observations on academic research methodology, the development of original research questions, publication strategies, and career planning within international academia, thereby serving as an important source of guidance for early-career researchers.
The first panel, moderated by Assoc. Prof. Ali İbrahim Akkutay, DEHUKAM Senior Researcher, featured presentations by Akrita Kaur, who examined marine litter governance in her paper “Beyond Geneva’s Failure: Reinforcing UNCLOS and Regional Seas Conventions for Effective Marine Litter Governance”; Heramb A., who addressed sponsorship and state responsibility in “Sponsorship and State Responsibility in Deep Seabed Mining: Rethinking the Concept of Effective Control”; and Swaleh H. Wengo, who presented a comparative study entitled “Balancing Sustainability and Sovereignty in Marine Spatial Planning: Comparative Perspectives on Maritime Boundaries in the Maldives, Türkiye, South Africa and Indonesia”.
The second panel, moderated by Dr. Ceren Cerit Dindar, DEHUKAM Senior Researcher, included presentations by Büşra Turhan on contractual practice in “Charterparty Off-Hire Clauses in Focus with Emphasis on Period and Net Off-Hire Types”; Kadir Dolu, who discussed insurance law in “The Practical Distinction Between P&I Insurance vis-à-vis Traditional Liability Insurance: Illustrated by Seafarers’ Claims”; Salih Hakan Kasalak, who examined arbitration frameworks in “Determining the Rules of the Maritime Trade Arbitration Center to be Established in Türkiye by Comparing the Maritime Trade Arbitration Centers Existing in Other Countries”; and Emre Önsöz, who analysed renewable energy regulation in “Legal Aspects of Offshore Wind Energy Activities”.
The third panel, chaired by Prof. Dr. Ademuni-Odeke, DEHUKAM Leading Researcher, brought together Adelaide Francesca Daniela Luminari, who explored due diligence obligations in “The Law of the Sea in a Changing Climate: Re-shaping Due Diligence after the ITLOS and ICJ Advisory Opinions”; Ali Ulvi Şahin, who addressed climate regulation in shipping through “Enforcing Carbon Efficiency in Shipping: The Role of Port State Authorities under UNCLOS and MARPOL”; Derya Ulutürk, who assessed climate governance in “Legal Evaluation of Global Climate Commitments and Regional Realities in the Mediterranean”; and Zhonghua Chen, who examined emissions-related obligations in “Addressing Climate Change under UNCLOS: The Legal Implications of the Cumulative and Diffuse Nature of GHG Emissions”.
The final panel, moderated by Dr. Hakan Koçak, DEHUKAM Senior Researcher, featured Udara Jayawardana, who analysed heritage protection in “The Legislative Framework on Protection and Preservation of Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH) for the Implementation of SDG 14 in Sri Lanka: Problems and Prospects”; Metin Tarancı, who presented a comparative analysis entitled “Lawfare and Maritime Delimitation Disputes in the East China Sea: A Comparative Analysis of Japan, China, and South Korea’s Claims under UNCLOS”; and Jannatul Shareat Disha, who examined environmental regulation in “Ship Recycling and Marine Pollution in Bangladesh: Legal Implications under UNCLOS and International Maritime Law”.
Across all panels, participants benefited from an interactive academic environment and received constructive feedback on their research. The conference concluded with a general assessment highlighting the importance of supporting postgraduate research and strengthening academic networks in the field of the law of the sea and maritime law.
