• • International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea 1974 (SOLAS);
• • International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973–1978 (MARPOL);
• • International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers 1978 (STCW);
• • International Convention for the Control and Management of;
• • Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments 2004 (BWM);
• • Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC).

• • Athens Convention 1974 (compulsory insurance);
• • International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage 1992 (bulk cargo pollution);
• • International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage 2001 (bunker pollution);
• • Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks 2007.

The relationship between international law and domestic law is the foundation upon which maritime law must stand. The essential feature is defined around the High Contracting Parties having signed what amounts to a contract between them. A State which fails to implement the law in its domestic statute book will therefore be exposed to liability to the other States by failing to carry out its duty and implement it. It is a matter between them, and they cannot blame the Master. The Convention can only be enforced between those States Parties whose democratic organs have embodied the Convention in domestic law. Therefore, legal individuals (people, incorporated companies) do not acquire any rights under a Convention itself and cannot be liable for breaches of a Convention, unless the State's constitution legislates for that, as we shall see.