BOOK REVIEW

Maritime Law "Second Edition"

By: Lamberto V. Pia
The second edition of the book "Maritime Law" written by Atty.
Lamberto V. Pia introduces the fundamentals of maritime law to students who
are studying maritime related profession and provides them a background of
contemporary maritime law. One of its objectives is to make maritime students
familiarize with basic concepts and fundamental of shipping to make them
aware of complexities of the maritime industry (MARINA) without having them
to result in extensive literature.

The book is essential because it provides vital information regarding

the laws, specifically international maritime laws; it also helps students to be
aware about the rules and regulations. It makes them aware of what to do and
not to do, what is right and what is wrong. Not only that it is making the aware
but also makes them ready for future problems on board and how to cope up
with it or how to avoid regulation/law violation at sea. The author wrote this
book as a continuation of his first book which somehow satisfies the needs for
the material and also for additional information.

The contribution of this book is important because it deals with the

structure of international maritime law like Republic Act No. 9295 that states
An Act of Promoting the Development of the Philippine Domestic Shipping,
Ship Building, Ship Repair and Ship Breaking, Ordaining Reforms in
Government Policies Towards Shipping in the Philippines, and Other
Purposes ; and the Rules and Regulation Implementing Republic Act 9295
and being approved by MARINA board on November 30, 2004.

Sources of contemporary maritime law are exceptionally laid out.

"The actual materials from which one can determine the law applicable to a
given situation are (1) national laws, rules and regulations, (2) decisions, and
(3) international maritime conventions" (p. 14). And regarding these
conventions, there exist a question as to their purpose. The answer may be
summarized in three principles: Uniformity of Law, Certainty of Law, and
Justice.

Pia also cited sources like the ILO Maritime Labor Conventions, IMO
news magazines, and significant papers from the World Maritime University .
These are well-known sources in the field that adds a great deal to his work's
credibility. Acquiring the knowledge of the substance of this book by maritime
students is essential because it states the necessary standardization of
 juridical regimes since "the sea with its winds, storms, dangers, doesn't
change" ( p. 1) and "what is respected and shared by all mariners as law of
the sea is their common existence with the sea" (p. 7).

Overall this book Maritime Law Second Edition displays its content
in a straightforward and concise manner. It effectively presents its aims and
goals and it is very helpful because the content is very accurate. The author
also stated the laws clearly. I could highly recommend it to anyone who wants
to involve their selves in maritime industry also to maritime students and
practitioners, ship masters, ship officer, crews and especially to their families
and to the Maritime related institution because it will give them awareness and
to have a better and broader understanding about the maritime industry laws,
rules and regulation that govern it.