Maritime Safety Law and Policies of the European Union and the United States of America: Antagonism or Synergy?

Universalism in maritime law as a point of reference for lawmakers: Myth and reality.- From the point of view of the flag State.- From the point of view of the coastal State.- From the point of view of the port State.- Overall position of the EU and the U.S. towards universal maritime safety standards: Common standards, but....- The EU “Common Maritime Transport Policy” on maritime safety and marine environment protection: Uniform, enhanced and anticipated rules.- The maritime safety and anti-pollution legal framework in the U.S.: The quest for optimum safety, the quest for limits to the traditional standard-setting process.- The search for common trends: A substantive law approach in the light of prevention, preparedness/response and liability.- Prevention.- Preparedness and the ability to respond: The need for promptness and effectiveness put to the test.- Liability issues for marine pollution: The paradigm of oil.- Concluding remarks – Recommendations.- The old debate is not dead: Freedom of the seas vs. coastal States’ rights.- The “problem of synergy and antagonism” as part of the “solution”.- Viewing the potential of underestimated directions by legislators: Marketoriented incentives in support of qualitative shipping.