Institute of Maritime Law featured in French documentary 'Qui contrôle la mer?'
On Tuesday 21st July the IML was featured in French documentary “Qui contrôle la mer?” [Who controls the sea?].
The documentary was broadcast by French television Network ARTE, as part of the Thema series, and was directed by Baudouin Koenig with the help of Michel Koutouzis. Over the course of almost an hour and a half, 'Qui contrôle la mer' allows its viewers to explore the vast ocean of international commerce.
Filmed in 2014, the documentary focuses on the 53,000 commercial vessels which pass each other each year on the maritime industry’s pathways, transporting 8 billion tonnes of goods, and representing 90% of worldwide trade.
Keen to answer the question of who controls the sea, the director most notably welcomes us on board the container-ships of Maersk Mc-Kinney Møller. Shanghai, the Greek port of Piraeus, Marseille, the Suez Canal and Rotterdam are also crucial stages in the investigation of this big question.
With the help of several interviews with the most important people in the maritime world – Tom Boardley (Lloyd’s Register), John Wang (CMA CGM China), Philippe Louis-Dreyfus (LDA), George Gourdomichalis (G Bros Maritime), Arnaud Leroy (MP), Patrick Verhoeven (Ecsa), Philippe Alfonso (ETF), etc. –, Baudouin Koenig paints an objective picture of the impressive, sometimes terrifying, yet always fascinating world of maritime commerce.
Institute director Professor Michael Tsimplis, and noted member Dr Alexandros Ntovas are both interviewed as part of the documentary.