This introductory chapter begins with a discussion of the variety of definitions that have been proposed for governance in general and outlines the problems that emerge in so doing. This is accompanied by a detailed literature review for governance as applied to the maritime sector including the development of policy for both ports and shipping. This is followed by a survey of current governance practice in the sector and the frameworks and structures for governance that have been used. It concludes with a detailed analysis of the drivers of maritime governance looking at the importance of monopolies, the control of competition, the opening of new markets, the regulation of externalities, provision of public goods and high-cost infrastructure, overcoming long pay-back timescales, service integration and coordination, the importance of prestige representation and political popularity to the maritime sector, the role of profit, the importance of economic clustering, the significance of tradition in particular to the shipping sector, employment, social issues and finally defence.