On the morning of Dec. 18, 2017, Brenda Hannigan, head of Southampton Law School and Professor of Southampton Institute of Maritime Law, Dr Jenny Jingbo Zhang of Southampton Law School visited Guangzhou Maritime Court and held an academic seminar for academic exchange with judges and judge assistants of Guangzhou Maritime Court.

President YeLiudong, on behalf of Guangzhou Maritime Court, gave a warm welcome to the two, and introduced the basic information of the court. President Ye said, Southampton Law School leads the world(is at the cutting edge) in the field of maritime law research, especially the Southampton Institute of Maritime Law, which covers the research of maritime law(ship collision, oil contamination, limitation of liability, etc.), law of carriage of goods by sea(chartering, bill of lading, etc.), marine insurance act, law of the international sale of goods, international commercial arbitration law, international jurisdiction, law of the sea and etc.. He indicated that this academic seminar will provide the judges and judge assistants some guidance and insight into the latest updates and trends of maritime law research.

Basing on the topic of cross-border group insolvency Professor Brenda Hannigan talked about the methods of Britain’s courts in handling legal affairs in respect of cross-border insolvency. She introduced the 2015 European Act in terms of insolvency liquidation among European Union countries, 1997 UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency and the effect of these unified regulations in practice.

Dr Jenny Jingbo Zhang started fr om the document of title of bill of lading under English Law, analyzed the carrier’s liability over delivery of goods without original bill of lading under order bill of lading and straight bill of lading, the relationship among letter of guarantee, exception clause, electronic bill of lading and carrier's responsibility of delivery of goods without original bills of lading.

Judges and judge assistants of Guangzhou Maritime Court exchanged in-depth views and had a heated discussion on the interested topics with Professor Brenda Hannigan and Dr Jenny Jingbo Zhang.

President Ye also discussed the potential collaboration with Professor Brenda Hannigan in terms of judge training and joint research projects. Both sides agreed that they should broaden the path for the cultivation of maritime judicial professionals. Southampton Law School will provide support for Guangzhou Maritime Court on the cultivation of maritime judges with international perspectives. Next they will strengthen their interaction and cooperation.