Day 3 of the CMI Tokyo Conference

Asian-Pacific Insight: the view from NMLAs – 𝐂𝐌𝐈 𝐓𝐨𝐤𝐲𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 – Parallel Session 1

On 15 May 2025, this interesting interactive session brought together in the Fuyo Room (East) some distinguished speakers from the Asian-Pacific region.

The panellists shared their views on Decarbonisation and Environmental Concerns, Digitalisation and Cybersecurity, Compliance and Regulatory Issues and Workforce and Seafarer Issues.

🔹 Moderator:
Lawrence Teh

🔹 Speakers:
– Akiyoshi Ikeyama
– Kah Wah Leong
– Hammish Fletcher
– Song Dihuang
– Captain Kim In-Hyeon
– Trishelea Ann Sandosam

This session provided updates and addressed the current legal challenges in the region from the perspective of NMLAs of Japan, Singapore, Australia & New Zealand, China, Korea and Malaysia.

Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) – 1 and 2 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐌𝐈 𝐓𝐨𝐤𝐲𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓- Parallel Session 2

On 15 May 2025, the participants of the CMI Tokyo Conference had the opportunity to explore the world of legal aspects of autonomous shipping, through two consecutive panel sessions and presentation of various speakers.

Mᴏʀɴɪɴɢ Sᴇssɪᴏɴ:
In this insightful session, the speakers addressed the legal issues arising from the use of the Remote Operation Centers (ROC) and their position under international law, followed by presentation of the report on ROC.

🔹 Moderator:
• Tom Birch Reynardson
🔹 Speakers and topics included:
• Legal issues arising from the Use of Remote Operation Centre – Gen Goto
• Remote operating centers and international law – Henrik Rigbom
• Development of a goal-based instrument for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) – Report on a survey on current issues concerning Remote Operation Centres – Edmund Greiner

Aғᴛᴇʀɴᴏᴏɴ Sᴇssɪᴏɴ:
Participants addressed the most recent developments in AI legislation and its impact on MASS, the key features of the Draft MASS Non-Mandatory Code and shared interesting insights into the results of a survey conducted by the Joint Sub-Committee on MASS and Collisions.

🔹 Moderator:
• Tom Birch Reynardson

🔹 Speakers and topics included:
• The EU AI Act – A Gamechanger for MASS? Frank Stevens
• Consideration of Liability Issues Base don the Draft MASS Non-mandatory Code – Kengo Minami
• MASS and Collisions – Report on the Work of the Joint Sub-Committee – Lucy Carey

Both sessions were highly interactive and followed by numerous thoughtful questions and contributions by the audience.

Legal Issues Facing the Cruise Industry – 𝐂𝐌𝐈 𝐓𝐨𝐤𝐲𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 – 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟏

On 15 May 2025, the CMI – Comité Maritime International hosted a dedicated session on the legal challenges facing the cruise industry, as an area of growing importance in the global maritime sector.

🔹 Moderator:
Fred Kenney

🔹 Speakers and Topics Included:
• Current State of the Cruise Industry– Fred Kenney
• Difference in law: Cruise and General Shipping– Fumiko Masuda
• Passenger Claims / Athens Convention – Grady Hurley
• Crew Claims and the MLC – Iwam Jaeger Junior
• The License to Operate – Jonathan Benner

The session sparked meaningful discussion on how international legal frameworks must adapt to meet the realities of cruise operations. It also offered an interesting insight into the national perspectives on cruse operations and respective legal regimes, such as USA and Japan.

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐢𝐣𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐦 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬 – 𝐂𝐌𝐈 𝐓𝐨𝐤𝐲𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 – 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟏

On 15 May 2025 the participants of the CMI Tokyo Conference 2025 gained valuable insights into the latest global developments regarding the ratification of the Judicial Sale of Ships Convention and the Rotterdam Rules from the panel of distinguished experts from the field.
Judicial sales:

🔹Moderator:
Ann Fenech

🔹Speakers and Topics included:

– Angele Sears-Debono
– Joaquin de Obarrio
– Lorenzo Schiano di Pepe
– Eduardo Albors
– Tomotaka FUJITA
– José Angelo Estrella Faria

Rotterdam Rules:

🔹Moderator:
Stuart Hetherington

🔹Speakers and Topics included:

– European Developments since Gothenburg, Gertjan van der Ziel, Godfried Smit
– Italy’s response to the Questionnaire, Corrado Bregante
– Developments in the US since Gothenburg, James Moseley
– Developments in Africa since Gothenburg, Andrew P M Robinson
– A Japanese perspective on the Rotterdam Rules, Yamaguchi Shuji
– Negotiable Cargo Documents and the Rotterdam Rules, Alexander von Ziegler

In this excellent session, the panellists offered a global snapshot of the ongoing processes of ratification of two valuable international instruments. They also elaborated on the respective milestones necessary to bring these legal instruments into effect. The panellists also shared valuable reports on national and regional developments in respect of Rotterdam Rules and their ratification.

𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 -𝐂𝐌𝐈 𝐓𝐨𝐤𝐲𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 – 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 2

On 15 May 2025, the CMI – Comité Maritime International hosted a dedicated session on the perspective of the Collision Convention in relation to the challenges of the modern times.

🔹 Moderator:
John O’Connor

🔹 Speakers and Topics Included:

• Towards a New Collision Convention: Expanding the Scope of Application– Francesco Siccardi

• International Private Law Aspects in Collision Cases: Should they be Adopted in the New Convention? – Klaus Ramming

• Collision Law Amendments to the Japanese Commercial Code – Manami Sasaoka

• The 1910 Collision Convention: Can an Old Sea Dog Lear New Tricks? – Hon. Steven Rares K.C.

The session raised some interesting matters of international private law in relation to the collisions and developed further the idea of adoption of the New Convention on Collisions. The very fruitful discussion marked one more significant step towards achieving the uniformity of maritime law, as the utmost goal of the CMI.

𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 – 𝐂𝐌𝐈 𝐓𝐨𝐤𝐲𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 – 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟏

On 15 May 2025, the CMI – Comité Maritime International hosted a dedicated session on the Polar Shipping and modern challenges and opportunities related to the region.

🔹 Moderator:
Aldo Chircop

🔹Speakers and Topics included:

• Arctic Shipping and Indigenous Rights: Challenges and Opportunities– Luce Bourbeau

• The Rights and Obligations of the Coastal States to Provide and Maintain Navigational Aids and Services in Arctic Waters – Phillip A. Buhler

• Ship-sourced Pollution in Antarctic Waters: Liability and Compensation – David Baker

The session raised some diverse hot topics related to Polar shipping, providing a valuable contribution to its human and environmental aspects.

𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐎𝐏𝐂 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐍𝐒 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬- 𝐂𝐌𝐈 𝐓𝐨𝐤𝐲𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 – 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟐

The session on the future of the IOPC and HNS Funds was hosted on 15 May 2025 by the CMI – Comité Maritime International. Panelists representing the funds, shipowners, cargo interests and insurers offered diverse perspectives on the complexities of marine pollution liability and compensation regime.

🔹 Moderator:
Tomotaka FUJITA

🔹 Speakers and Topics Included:
• The Funds Secretariat’s View– Gaute Sivertsen
• Shipowner’s View – Leyla Pearson
• Insurer’s View – Nick Shaw
• Cargo Interest’s View– Koshi Okuda
• The HNS Fund Ready for Operation? – Gillian Grant

Great insights were shared during the Session on the legal and practical aspects of the CLC/Fund and HNS Convention from different perspectives. Discussion provided a valuable interactive platform to explore the intersection of interests and responsibilities across the sector.