On 8 October 2021, the Russian Maritime Law Association “RUMLA” held an annual meeting and a celebration to mark its joining the International Maritime Committee (Comité Maritime International (CMI)). Back in September 30th, 2021 the General Assembly of the CMI took place where the issue of “RUMLA”’s membership as a national maritime law association from Russia was put to vote. The decision of the CMI Assembly was almost unanimous (adopted by a general vote of CMI members). This historic event opens up the possibility for Russian lawyers specialising in maritime law to participate in the drafting of international maritime conventions.

Konstantin Krasnokutsky, President of the Association, gave a report on “RUMLA”’s activities from its establishment in 2018 to the present day.

“RUMLA” was registered by the Head Department of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation in St. Petersburg on 30 August 2018. By the end of 2019, the Association had registered the trademark “RUMLA”, short for RUssian Maritime Law Association. Similar abbreviations are commonly used for national maritime law associations, e.g. in the UK – “BMLA” (British Maritime Law Association), in Malta – “MMLA” (Malta Maritime Law Association), Canada – “CMLA” (Canadian Maritime Law Association), whose abbreviation “CMLA” is duplicated with China’s – China Maritime Law Association. The same abbreviations are used in Japan, Poland and other countries.

Since 2020, the Maritime Law Association RUMLA has been publishing the Merchant Shipping Code of the Russian Federation in a print and up-to-date version. It is difficult to find the MSC RF in hardcopy in bookstores, unlike, for example, the Civil Code or the Tax Code. In 2020, the largest print run was 1500 copies, of which more than 1200 were distributed to shipping companies, ports, law firms, freight forwarders and other organisations. The distribution of the codes has helped to attract new members and by the end of 2020 there were more than 40 members.

In June 2020, the Association started publishing Maritime Law Reviews, with reviews published for June, July, August and September.

In December 2020, the Association received registration for the Maritime Law Journal as a print media. For the first time in Russia’s history, a fully bilingual (Russian-English) journal with a scientific and educational focus in the field of maritime law saw light.

The first issue of Maritime Law was published in January 2021 and covered the period from October 2020 to January 2021. A total of 5 issues of the magazine were published in 2021, including the present issue 5/2021.

In March 2021, a new version of the Association’s Articles was registered, which explicitly provided for that one of the Association’s activities was to participate in international organisations, associations, networks of maritime and merchant maritime professionals, international exchange of experience and membership in the Comité Maritime International.

The President of the Association explained how the application for membership was made and how it was considered by the CMI, as well as the voting procedure and the joining of “RUMLA” as the national maritime law association from Russia.

Below is a brief history of the Comité Maritime International and Russia’s membership (see p. 24–28).

One of the first steps of involving Russian lawyers in the CMI’s work was the seminar held by “RUMLA” on the 7 December 2021 to discuss the draft Convention on the Beijing Draft (Recognition of Foreign Judicial Sales of Ships). The details of the seminar can be found in this issue of the journal.

Following the President’s report, the Association members and invitees celebrated this, without any exaggeration, historic event.

The celebration is documented at the official “RUMLA”’s YouTube channel, as well as in the photoreport below. ■