Introduction

This chapter introduces area-based management (ABM) in shipping against the historical and policy backdrop of control of international navigation in defined areas of ocean space, culminating with the development of the international law of the sea in the twentieth century. The problematique of ABM in shipping is set out as a deliberate and scientifically supported exercise guided by multiple factors, including how risks posed by ships and risks posed to ships are scientifically assessed and perceived by regulators, rightsholders, stakeholders, and the public at large. Finally, the chapter describes the book’s purposes, approach, research context, structure, and chapters.