The National Maritime Foundation (NMF), in collaboration with the India Office of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Gujarat Maritime University (GMU), and Gujarat International Maritime Arbitration Centre (GIMAC), is organising the Public International Maritime Law Conference—LAWSEA 2026—on the theme “Maritime Disputes in an Era of Contestation: Shifting between ‘Law in Abstraction’ and ‘Law in Operation’.” The Conference will be held on 16–17 September 2026 at GNLU, Gandhinagar.
The Conference will bring together eminent scholars, policymakers, diplomats, naval and maritime practitioners, and technical experts to examine how international maritime law operates in situations of strategic and legal contestation. Discussions will address maritime boundaries and baselines, navigation through international straits, jurisdiction in the contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone, military activities at sea, marine scientific research, seabed resources, submarine cables, fisheries disputes, maritime lawfare, and compliance with international judgments and arbitral awards. The Conference will also explore emerging challenges arising from autonomous systems, satellite surveillance, maritime domain awareness, cyber vulnerabilities, and climate-induced changes to coastlines.
LAWSEA 2026 offers participants a valuable opportunity to engage with contemporary maritime disputes through legal, operational, diplomatic, and strategic perspectives.
Registration is open until 14 September 2026. Seats are limited and will be allotted on a first-come, first-served basis.
For any further queries, contact: Dr. Harsha Rajwanshi - (+91) 9410422436 / Mr. Dinesh Kumar Mishra - (+91) 9986429703
