Dominican Republic MLA – Update June 2026
The Dominican Republic Maritime Law Association (DMLA) is honored by its admission to the Comité Maritime International (CMI), strengthening the ties between the Dominican Republic and the international maritime community while contributing to the ongoing efforts aimed at the modernization, harmonization, and uniformity of maritime law.
Our admission to the CMI was approved during the Assembly held in May 2026 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This membership has been received with great enthusiasm by our associates, who embrace with responsibility and commitment the opportunities for cooperation and the obligations arising from participation in the world’s leading international organization dedicated to the development and unification of maritime law.
The Association brings together maritime lawyers, representatives of the Dominican Navy, shipping agents, and professionals and technicians linked to the maritime and logistics sectors. Its mission is to promote the study, development, and dissemination of maritime law to contribute to the strengthening of the Dominican Republic maritime legal framework and support national and international efforts aimed at the harmonization and uniformity of maritime law. The Association also seeks to foster cooperation among public and private stakeholders involved in maritime, port, logistics, and international trade activities.
The Dominican Republic occupies a strategic position in the Caribbean and serves as an important regional hub for international trade, cruise tourism, passenger transportation, logistics, and port operations. In recent years, the country has undertaken significant legislative reforms, most notably the enactment of Maritime Commerce Law No. 5-23, which modernizes the national maritime legal framework and aligns it with contemporary international standards. Associates of the DRMLA actively participated in the analysis, discussion, and promotion of this legislation, widely regarded as one of the most significant milestones in Dominican Republic maritime law in recent decades.
Throughout 2026, professionals affiliated with the Association have participated in various national technical commissions and working groups that have contributed to important regulatory initiatives in our country. These include the drafting of a joint resolution regulating nautical tourism and establishing a legal framework for recreational and pleasure craft in the Dominican Republic, as well as participation in discussions related to a Ministry of Finance resolution authorizing, under specific conditions, the operation of cruise ship casinos while vessels are anchored or berthed in Dominican Republic ports.
Representatives of the Association are also contributing to the preparation of the Regulations for the Implementation of Maritime Commerce Law No. 5-23, an important step in completing the modernization of the country’s maritime legal system.
In the academic and institutional sphere, associates of the DRMLA will participate in the ALC Port Cities Forum – First Port Urban Agenda of the Dominican Republic and the Fifth Latin American and Caribbean Port Cities Forum, both of which promote dialogue on port-city integration and sustainable port development.
In the coming weeks, the Association will hold an institutional meeting to emphasize the importance of strengthening maritime law in the Dominican Republic and to formally introduce its new Board of Directors, headed by Mr. Máximo Peña as President and Ms. Francis Matos as Secretary.
Among the Association’s key projects for 2026 are the publication of its first institutional newsletter in July and the organization of the Second Maritime Transport and International Logistics Congress in October, which will bring together representatives from the public and private sectors, academia, and international organizations involved in maritime trade and transport.
The Association’s membership continues to grow steadily, reflecting the increasing interest in maritime law in the Dominican Republic and the commitment of its associates to building a modern and internationally connected maritime community.
The Dominican Republic Maritime Law Association extends its sincere appreciation to the Comité Maritime International for its warm welcome and reaffirms its commitment to actively contribute to the objectives, studies, working groups, and initiatives of the CMI, promoting knowledge-sharing, international cooperation, and the uniformity of maritime law for the benefit of the global maritime community.