BY FRANCIS EZEM

Barring any last minute change in the scheme of things, former Head of State, Chief Ernest Shonekan has accepted to chair the 15th edition of the International Maritime Seminar for Judges while the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Chief Walter Onnoghen would be a special guest of honour.

The seminar, being organised by Nigerian Shippers Council in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute NJI, will hold at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja between July 3and 5, 2018.

Director, Special Duties of council, Mr. Ignatius Nweke, who spoke in Lagos, Wednesday, said the seminar is aimed at bringing the nation’s judges, lawyers, practitioners and other stakeholders together for the purpose of enriching their knowledge.

“It is also aimed at equipping them deal with the challenges of interpreting and applying international maritime laws in settlement of shipping related disputes”, he said.

It was further gathered that the three-day seminar is expected to consider some salient topics such as Introduction to Maritime Law, Applicability of International Treaties to Nigerian Laws, Rights of a Cargo Owner at the Insolvency of the Carrier: The Hanin Shipping Experience, The Draft Convention Recognition of Foreign Judicial Sale of Ships: The Nigerian Position.

Other topics to be considered also include Piracy and Armed Robbery at Sea: Interpretation and Economic Implication and An overview of the Proposed Liability Regime for Inland Carriage of Goods (Rails and Waterways), that will help in defining the scope of status of legal matters involving the Nigerian shippers.

The event, which the Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi is the chief host, expects participants to include Justices of the Supreme Court, Court of Apeal, justices of the Federal and State High Courts, Attorneys – General, maritime law practitioners, shipping companies, legal practitioners of public and private companies, freight forwarders, transport operators and other stakeholders in the maritime and shipping industry.