Conference theme : Maritime Disputes in an Era of Contestation: Shifting Between ‘Law in Abstraction’ and ‘Law in Operation ’
GANDHINAGAR : Gujarat Maritime University (GMU), Gujarat International Maritime Arbitration Centre (GIMAC), Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), and the National Maritime Foundation (NMF), New Delhi, in partnership with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), India Office, are set to host the second edition of LAWSEA – Conference on Laws of the Sea on 16–17 September 2026 at Gandhinagar.
Building upon the success of its inaugural edition in 2025, LAWSEA 2026 will bring together eminent scholars, legal practitioners, naval professionals, policymakers, diplomats and maritime experts to deliberate on contemporary challenges in Public International Maritime Law.
The conference will focus on the theme, “ Maritime Disputes in an Era of Contestation: Shifting Between ‘Law in Abstraction’ and ‘Law in Operation ’.
The conference will examine the evolving relationship between international maritime law, State practice, maritime security and strategic interests, with discussions encompassing maritime disputes and sovereignty claims, the interpretation and application of UNCLOS, military activities and surveillance at sea, emerging technologies, lawfare, and mechanisms for managing maritime disputes.
The inaugural Session will feature distinguished maritime and legal leaders. Vice Admiral Pradeep Chauhan, AVSM & Bar, VSM, IN (Retd), Director-General, National Maritime Foundation , New Delhi, will deliver the Inaugural Address, while Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, PVSM, AVSM, NM, IN (Retd), Chairman, National Maritime Foundation and former Chief of the Naval Staff , will deliver the Special Address on “ Maritime Disputes on Friday: From Delimitation to Day-to-Day Contestation .”
The Opening Session will also include Presidential Remarks by Professor (Dr.) S. Shanthakumar, Director, GNLU, Provost, GMU and President, GIMAC; and Welcome Remarks by Ms Simran Dhingra, Head of International Cooperation, KAS, India Office.
Across two days, LAWSEA 2026 will provide a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue and professional exchange, bringing legal principles into conversation with the operational and strategic realities of an increasingly contested maritime domain.
The conference is expected to contribute to a deeper understanding of contemporary maritime disputes and the evolving legal, strategic and policy choices shaping the maritime order in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
LAWSEA 2026 seeks to advance informed dialogue on how law can remain relevant, responsive and effective in navigating the complexities of the contemporary maritime domain.
