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PROSHANTO K. MUKHERJEE

LL.B. (Dalhousie), Ph.D. (Wales), LL.D. Juris dr. Honoris Causa (Lund),
Barrister and Solicitor, Notary Public (Ontario), Master Mariner (Canada) FNI, FRIN (UK)
Professor of Law and Foreign Expert, Dalian Maritime University;
Erstwhile Vice President (Research) and Director, Doctoral Programs, World Maritime University;
Emeritus Professor of Maritime Law and Policy, World Maritime University;
Erstwhile Senior Deputy Director/Professor of Law, IMO International Maritime Law Institute;
Honorary Professor of Law, National Law University Odisha
Chancellor CINEC Campus, Colombo

Personal Information

Date of Birth: August 11, 1945

Address: Dalian Maritime University

Administration Building,
International Cooperation and Exchange Office,
Room 908
1 Linghai Road,
Dalian 116026, Liaoning Province,
CHINA

Telephone: +86 151 4116 1958 (Chinese mobile)

+86 411 8814 0062 (Dalian residence land line)
+91 93375 19110 (Indian mobile)

E-mail: proshanto.mukherjee@yahoo.com; pkm@wmu.se

Nationality: Citizen of Canada; Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)

Academic Qualifications

1962
University of Calcutta, St. Paul’s Cathedral Mission College, India - Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), First
Year, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.

1975-1977
Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada: undergraduate English and Political Science and
postgraduate Political Science and Public Administration.

1977-1980

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Dalhousie University Law School: Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.); specialization in Marine and
Environmental Law.

September 1982 - February 1983

Law Society of Upper Canada: Bar Admission Course - degree of Barrister-at-Law.

September 1990 - 1996

University of Wales: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Thesis: “The Development of Maritime Legislation:
An Enquiry into its History, Principles, Uniformity and Preparation”.

June 2014
Lund University: Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) Juris dr. Honoris Causa, Sweden, (Lund University is ranked
among the top 100 universities in the world).

Professional Qualifications

Called to the Bar of Ontario, Law Society of Upper Canada (now known as Law Society of Ontario) as
a Barrister and admitted as a Solicitor in the Rolls of the Supreme Court of Ontario;
Appointed Notary Public in and for the Province of Ontario, (1983);
Holder of Certificate of Competency as Master of a Foreign-Going Ship issued by Minister of
Transport, Government of Canada, (1974).

Present Position

Professor of Law and Foreign Expert, Law School of Dalian Maritime University, China;

Responsibilities include delivering to Chinese LLM students, courses in Admiralty Law (Maritime
Liens and Mortgages, Proprietary Interests in Ships, Enforcement of Maritime Claims, Arrest of Ships,
Saisie Conservatoire, Freezing Injunctions, Collision Law, Salvage Law, General Average, Limitation
of Liability); Arbitration Law; Introductory Common Law; Law of the Sea; Marine Environmental
Law; Legal Research and Writing; Legal English; Moot Court training.
Delivering to International LLM and PhD students, courses in Admiralty Law (Maritime Liens and
Mortgages, Proprietary Interests in Ships, Enforcement of Maritime Claims, Arrest of Ships, Saisie
Conservatoire, Freezing Injunctions, Attachment, Collision Law, Salvage Law, Limitation of Liability);
Marine Environmental Law, Maritime Penal/Criminal Law, Legal Research and Writing, Legal English.
Delivering to Chinese LLB students, courses in Introductory Common Law; Legal Research and
Writing, Legal English.
Setting and marking examinations, written assignments and papers.
Supervising International PhD students.
Conducting Maritime Law Seminars for judges of the Ningbo Maritime Court.
Delivering public lectures and keynote speeches, presenting academic papers at conferences, seminars,
workshops, symposia and colloquia on behalf of DMU Law School hosted by universities and academic
institutions in China and abroad.
Researching and publishing books, monographs, peer-reviewed articles, commentaries and case reports.
Delivering Maritime Law courses in the Maritime Safety and Environmental Management program of
World Maritime University (WMU) at DMU and the International Transport and Logistics program of
WMU at Shanghai Maritime University (SMU).
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Honorary Positions

Chancellor, Colombo International Nautical and Engineering College (CINEC) Campus, Colombo, Sri
Lanka
Emeritus Professor of Maritime Law and Policy, World Maritime University,
Honorary Professor of Law, National Law University Odisha, Cuttack, India
Honorary Vice Chancellor, Dhaka Residential University, Gazipur, Bangladesh
Honorary Research Fellow, Swansea University
Adjunct Professor of Maritime Law, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, South Korea
Visiting Professor, Korean Maritime University, Pusan, South Korea
Visiting Professor, Dalian Maritime University School of Law, China (2004-2013)
Visiting Professor, Shanghai Maritime University, China
Visiting Professor, Jimei University, China
Visiting Professor, Qingdao Ocean Shipping Mariners College, Qingdao, China
Visiting Professor, University of Antwerp (Hoogleraar Universiteit Antwerpen), Faculty of Law,
Belgium
Visiting Professor, West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata, India
Visiting Professor, Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) and Gujarat Maritime University (GMU),
India
Adjunct Professor, Bangabandhu Shaikh Mujibur Rahman (BSMR) Maritime University, Dhaka,
Bangladesh
Visiting Professor, Yangon University, Faculty of Law, Myanmar
Visiting Professor, Myanmar Maritime University, Myanmar
Visiting Professor, Hague Academy of International Law, Advanced Studies in Public and Private
International Law, The Hague, Netherlands
Honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) Juris dr. Honoris Causa recipient, Lund University, Sweden
Senior Consultant, China-Europe Commercial Collaboration Association (CECCA), London.

Awards and Honours

Holder of Xinghai Friendship Award granted by the Municipal People’s Government of Dalian.
Awarded on 12 April 2016;
Holder of Friendship Award of Liaoning Province granted by the Liaoning Provincial People’s
Government. Awarded on 27 September 2017;
Nominated for Government of China Friendship Award by Association of Foreign Experts of Dalian;
Honoured by invitation to the Distinguished Foreign Experts Reception Banquet at the Great Hall of the
People in Beijing on the occasion of the 70th Anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of
China on 27 September 2019.

Special Recognition

Cited extensively by the Federal Court of Australia per McKerracher J. in Reiter Petroleum Inc. v. The
Ship “Sam Hawk”, [2015] FCA 1005; [2016] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 253 referring to his article - Proshanto K.
Mukherjee, “The law of maritime liens and conflict of laws” (2003) 9(6) JIML 545.

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Cited by the Federal Court of Appeal of Australia by Allsop C.J. in Reiter Petroleum Inc. v. The Ship
“Sam Hawk”, [2016] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 639 referring to his article - Proshanto K. Mukherjee, “The law of
maritime liens and conflict of laws” (2003) 9(6) JIML 545.

Career in Academia and Administration

1989 – 1996;
Professor of Maritime Law at IMO International Maritime Law Institute, Malta

1997-2011
Holder of Professorial Chair at World Maritime University;

2005-2011
Professor of Law and Co-Director of Joint Maritime Law Programme (LLM and PhD) of World
Maritime University and Lund University delivered at Lund University, Sweden;

2011-2013
Professor of Law and Director of Maritime Law Programme (LLM and PhD) at Lund University,
Sweden;

2011-2013
Professor and Head of Specialization, Maritime Law and Policy, World Maritime University, Malmo,
Sweden;

2005-2011
Co-Director of Ph.D. Programme in Maritime and Commercial Law jointly delivered by World
Maritime University and Swansea University;

2005-2011
Vice President (Research), Founder and Director of all Doctoral Programs of WMU; Head of Maritime
Law and Policy Specialization World Maritime University; Malmo, Sweden;
Responsible for all matters relating to academic research including research projects, doctoral
research of WMU and joint doctoral research program with Swansea University and joint LLM
program with Lund University, research collaborations with other universities, acting as Chairman
of PhD Admissions Committee, PhD Progression Boards and PhD Examination Boards, appointing
PhD supervisors and examiners and generally providing direction and guidance with regard to all
research matters and PhD supervision and examinations.

1999-2011
ITF Professor of Maritime Safety and Environmental Protection, World Maritime University, Malmo,
Sweden;

1999-2011
ITF Professor of Maritime Safety and Environmental Protection (MSEP) and Head of Maritime
Administration Specialization, Academic Coordinator for the Maritime Safety and Environmental
Administration, Maritime Law and Policy, Marine Environment and Ocean Management and Maritime
Education and Training specializations of the World Maritime University M.Sc. Programme.
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Supervisor of multiple-member faculty; duties embraced all academic and administrative functions
including planning, preparation and organization of academic programmes, teaching at postgraduate
level, research and publication, supervision and internal assessment of postgraduate dissertations and
doctoral theses, setting and assessment of examinations, engagement and scheduling of visiting faculty,
supervision of resident faculty and support staff, delivering the maritime law and administration courses
in the WMU external programmes at Dalian and Shanghai Maritime Universities in China. Member of
the University’s Management Committee, Curriculum and Assessment Committee, Academic Council,
and Chairman of the Research Committee.
Supervisor of numerous doctoral candidates, external or internal examiner or Chairman of Examination
Board of Ph.D. candidates at World Maritime University, Swansea University, Cardiff University,
University of Greenwich, Greenwich Maritime Institute, University of Plymouth, Dalian Maritime
University, Lund University and University of Central Lancashire. (See details below)

2004 - 2016
Director and/or Lecturer at National Judicial Training Institute for Judges of the Superior Courts of
Ghana at seminars sponsored by Ghana Shippers’ Authority and Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority.
Lecturer at similar judges’ seminars sponsored by Nigerian Shippers’ Council.

1989 to 1996
Founding Senior Deputy Director and Professor of Maritime Law of the IMO International Maritime
Law Institute (IMLI) in Malta. Member of the Governing Board of the Institute and of the Academic
Committee. Responsibilities included administration and supervision of the Institute's day to day
operations; budgetary and financial management of the Institute; supervision of staff and liaison with
governments and international organizations, agencies, and institutions involved in maritime law.
Professor of Maritime Law (postgraduate LLM program): academic responsibilities included planning
and organizing the Shipping Law and Maritime Legislation programs, preparing curricula and time-
tables, scheduling visiting professors, teaching the foundation courses in Shipping Law and Maritime
Legislation, engaging, scheduling and supervising lecturers, supervising tutorials, maritime legislation
drafting projects and dissertations; setting and marking examinations, serving on the Board of
Examiners of the Institute and organizing Graduations.

1989 to 1996
Lecturer on Maritime Law, International Oceans Institute (IOI) Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
and Valletta, Malta.

1990 to 1998
Visiting Professor, World Maritime University, Malmö, Sweden.

1991
Special Examiner for the Canada Lands Surveyor Commission Examination on Offshore Management;
appointed by the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, Canada.

1991
Lecturer at Maritime Law Summer Course in Varna, Bulgaria, sponsored jointly by the University of
Sophia and the European Law Students’ Association (ELSA).

1993, 1994

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Lecturer and Academic Head, International Maritime Law Seminars jointly sponsored by ELSA and
IMLI in Malta.

PhD Activity

Supervisor

Maximo Q. Mejia (Lund University) – Philippines/Sweden

Mikis Manolis (Swansea University) - Canada
Azfar Muhamad Mustafar (Swansea University) - Malaysia
Ying Li (Swansea University/World Maritime University) - China
Olena Bokareva (Lund University) - Ukraine
Daisy Romanini (World Maritime University)- Italy
Sairabashir Dar (Dalian Maritime University - current) - Pakistan
Sin Hyok Pak (Dalian Maritime University - current) - DPRK

Examiner

Detlef Nielson (University of Wales Cardiff) - Germany

Sabirin Ja’afar (GMI, Greenwich Maritime University) - Malaysia
Jingjing Xu (Swansea University) - China/United Kingdom
Feng Shi (Plymouth University) - China
Kofi Emmanuel Mbiah (World Maritime University) - Ghana
Nalaka Jayakody (Dalian Maritime University) - Sri Lanka
Yinan Yin (University of Central Lancashire) - China
Anete Logina (World Maritime University) - Latvia
Tafsir Matin Johansson (World Maritime University) - Bangladesh/Sweden
Sandra Lielbarde (University of Catalonia) - Latvia
Laura-Leigh Cameron Dow (Monash University) (forthcoming in 2021) - Australia

Chairman of Examination Board

Michael Manuel (World Maritime University) - Ghana

Kevin Ghirxi (World Maritime University) - Malta
Abhinayan Basu Bal (World Maritime University) – India/Sweden
Late Rajendra Prasad (World Maritime University) - India

Experience in the UN-IMO System

Since 1987
IMO Consultant in Maritime Law and Legislation and Maritime Administration
In that capacity undertook numerous missions for several jurisdictions to draft maritime legislation in
the fields of shipping, commercial maritime law, maritime labour law, marine environmental law, ports
and inland waters navigation and/or provided advice on the establishment and operation of Maritime
Administrations including Bahamas, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Democratic Peoples’ Republic of
Korea, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Hungary, Indonesia, Jamaica, Latvia, Oman, Philippines,
Mauritius, Mozambique, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago and Vietnam.
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1997 - 1999
IMO Legal Adviser for the Caribbean Region
In that capacity acted as Head of the Legal Component of the Wider Caribbean Initiative on Ship
Generated Waste (WCISW), an IMO/World Bank project headquartered in Port of Spain, Trinidad and
Tobago involving 22 participating countries in the Caribbean and Central American Region.
Responsibilities included acting as legal adviser, drafting regional model marine pollution legislation
both principal and subordinate for the implementation of various international conventions on maritime
safety and marine environmental matters, organizing and/or chairing workshops and training seminars,
advising various Government Ministries and agencies of the Caribbean Region and supervising regional
and sub-regional legal consultants. Responsibilities also included acting as legal adviser to the
Caribbean Port State Control Secretariat in Bridgetown, Barbados and the REMPEITC-Carib Office in
Curacao.

2006
As IMO Legal Consultant prepared and submitted project report on Ballast Water Management for the
IMO GloBallast Project Phase II.

September 2017
Engaged as Lead Consultant for IMO Interactive Workshop on General Principles of Drafting National
Legislation to Implement IMO Conventions held at IMO Headquarters.

Advisory and Consultancy Work and Services since 1983 (other than IMO)

Provided legal and policy advice and/or drafted maritime legislation variously on shipping law, marine
environmental law, commercial maritime law and maritime labour law and yacht law in Bangladesh,
British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, India, Latvia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar,
Oman and Romania (on behalf of Government of Sweden);

Legal Consultant for International Centre for Ocean Development (ICOD), United Nations Economic
and Social Council (UNESCO) and Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) - Project on research
and survey vessels;

Legal Counsel to law firms in Malta (1989-1997);

In-house Counsel to Latvian Shipping Company (1990-1992);

Legal Counsel to law firms in London, Amsterdam and Oslo on commercial maritime arbitration and
maritime criminal law matters involving marine pollution offences (Trafigura cases);

Appointed to the Economic and Social Council for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Group of Legal
Experts in Maritime Legislation to revise and update the Manual entitled Guidelines for Maritime
Legislation Volume I for publication of its Third Edition (1991);

Member of Advisory Panel and Head of the Legal Component of the World Bank/IMO project Wider
Caribbean Initiative for Ship-generated Waste (WCISW);

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Legal Consultant to Cayman Islands Shipping Registry now known as Maritime Administration of the
Cayman Islands (MACI),

Legal Consultant to Government Ministry responsible for Shipping in Mauritius for drafting of
maritime, marine environmental, commercial and yacht legislation;

Appointed Legal Consultant by Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Mahathir of Malaysia to head an
Advisory Team for the Establishment of the Langkawi International Yacht Registry and draft the
necessary legislation for its operation;

Legal Consultant to Government of Latvia for drafting of Maritime Code and advising on Maritime
Administration;

Legal Consultant to Government of Oman for drafting of Maritime Legislation and advising on
Maritime Administration;

Reviewed and commented on draft Merchant Shipping Act, 2017 of India as Maritime Legislation
Consultant on behalf of World Maritime University;

Senior Consultant and Expatriate Legal Expert to Marinecare Consultants Bangladesh Ltd. for the
drafting and updating of new Merchant Shipping Act (currently Ordinance) of Bangladesh since
December 2018 (on-going);

Engaged by the Government of Mauritius as Legal Consultant and for drafting of Yacht legislation
(2019-2021 on-going).

Advisory and Administrative Career in Government of Cayman Islands (1996 to

1998)

Reviewing, updating and preparation of shipping, port and marine environmental legislation of the
Cayman Islands, both principal as well as subordinate, advising on shipping policy matters, Legal
Advisor for the Shipping Sector Consultative Committee and the Shipowners’ Advisory Council and
generally providing legal advice on all matters of maritime law to the Maritime Administration of the
Cayman Islands (MACI)

Advisory and Administrative Career in Government of Canada (1980 to 1989)

Senior Adviser, Maritime Policy and International Affairs, Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS),
Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Ottawa; providing advice to Director General of CHS, Assistant
Deputy Minister (Science) and Deputy Minister on national and international maritime law and policy
and international affairs; developing and implementing Canadian policies and strategies on multilateral
and bilateral maritime treaties; providing advice on delimitation of maritime boundaries and other
aspects of law of the sea; developing maritime legislation based on international conventions and
judicial decisions; developing law and policy on navigational safety, vessel traffic management, ship-
source pollution, jurisdiction over offshore resources and marine scientific research; preparing Cabinet
documents on maritime legislation. Participating in bilateral and multi-lateral negotiations dealing with
research, transfer of technology and maritime boundaries; chairing Departmental Working Groups on
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various matters of Shipping Law and Law of the Sea; providing advice on legal and nautical issues
involving copyright protection of nautical products and electronic charting, collisions, groundings and
marine pollution casualties.

Canadian delegate to the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International
Maritime Organization (IMO), Environment Committee of the Organization for Economic Co-operation
and Development (OECD) and Canadian representative on the International Hydrographic Organization
(IHO) Group of Experts on Technical Aspects of the Law of the Sea (TALOS).

Chairman of Liability and Compensation Working Group of Inter-Departmental Task Force on Tanker
Safety and Pollution Prevention, Government of Canada.

Career as Legal Practitioner (1981 – 1989)

Served articles with Robert J. Green Q.C., Director of Legal Services, Department of Justice,
Government of Canada, Ottawa.

Called to the Ontario Bar - Law Society of Upper Canada (now known as Law Society of Ontario) as
Barrister-at-Law; entered in the Rolls of the Supreme Court of Ontario as a Solicitor; Appointed Notary
Public in and for the Province of Ontario.

Practiced as a Barrister and Solicitor in Ottawa, Ontario, as an Associate in the law firm of Barnes,
Sammon, Naftel and subsequently as a sole practitioner. Areas of legal work as a private practitioner
included intellectual property law, estate law, matrimonial law, commercial and corporate law, and
local municipal law.

Areas of legal work in the government included criminal prosecution, civil litigation, tax litigation
and fisheries law.

2015

Appointed Foreign Maritime Law Consultant at The Twelve Tables, an international law firm in
Dhaka, Bangladesh.

2018

Appointed Chief Patron at SQM Law Chambers, an international law firm, and Anchor Law House in
Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Career as Seafarer (1963 – 1979)

Training ship Dufferin, Bombay (now Mumbai), India; Officer Cadet training for the Merchant Navy.
Graduated with First Class Certificate; Awarded Government of West Bengal Scholarship;

Lal Bahadur Shashtri Nautical and Engineering College, Bombay, India; Second Mate’s and First
Mate’s (Foreign-Going) Certificates of Competency;

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Nova Scotia Nautical Institute, Halifax, Nova Scotia; Certificate of Competency as Master of a Foreign-
Going Ship issued by Minister of Transport, Government of Canada;

Served a total of sixteen years at sea including cadetship on a merchant navy training ship and on-board
training on commercial ships as an officer cadet, third, second and chief officer on various types of
merchant ships including cargo freighters, container ships, coastal and crude oil tankers, bulk carriers
and passenger ships, under Indian, German and British flags, and chief officer and master on Canadian
hydrographic and scientific research ships; experienced in Arctic navigation in ice-covered waters.

Publications and Editorial Activities

(See detailed separate List of Papers and Publications)

Publications

Variously, Author, Co-author, Associate author, Chief Editor of over 120 publications including books,
monographs, book chapters, peer-reviewed journal articles, editorials, forewords, book reviews,
research project reports, conference proceedings, conference keynote speeches, seminar/workshop
presentations.

Editorial Activities

Currently Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Transnational and Chinese Maritime Law and Member of the
Editorial Boards of the Journal of International Maritime Law; International Journal of Transportation
Law; WMU Journal of Maritime Affairs; NLUO Law Journal and Beijing Law Review; previously
Member of the Editorial Board of Journal of Maritime Law and Commerce, and Editorial Assistant of
Dalhousie Law Journal; regular reviewer of manuscripts submitted for publication to Marine Policy,
Journal of Maritime and Territorial Research and other journals.

Languages

Fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali and Oriya with elementary proficiency in German and French.

Other Activities
Symposium Director for eight Annual Symposia on Maritime Security at World Maritime University
sponsored by the Swedish International Development and Cooperation Agency (SIDA) (2002-2010);

Legal Consultant for the Swedish Maritime Administration on behalf of World Maritime University for
provision of consultancy services to the Government of Romania under the European Union (EU)
Twinning Project to assist Romania as a candidate country for accession to implement European
maritime legislation and administrative requirements (2002);

Member of the Comité Maritime International (CMI) Working Group on Unfair Treatment of Seafarers
since 2005;

World Maritime University Advisor to the Government of India on the establishment of the Indian
Maritime University (2007);

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Legal Consultant, Baltic Master Projects I and II on behalf of World Maritime University involving
maritime safety and environmental protection law and policy in the Baltic region;

Legal Consultant to Swedish Maritime Administration on behalf of Lund University on Motorways of

the Sea (MONALISA), a Navigation project of the European Commission;

Senior Consultant, China-Europe Commercial Collaboration Association (CECCA) since 2017.

Expert participant in Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Ltd., London, Survey for World University Rankings
nominated by Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China;

Expert participant in Times Higher Education, UK World University Rankings survey.

Professional Affiliations

Fellow, Nautical Institute, London, United Kingdom;

Associate Fellow, Royal Institute of Navigation at the Royal Geographical Society, London, United
Kingdom;

Member, Canadian Maritime Law Association, Montreal, Quebec;

Member, Law Society of Upper Canada (now Law Society of Ontario), Province of Ontario;

Member, Canadian Hydrographer’s Association.

Member, Honourable Company of Master Mariners, Canada

PKM/ updated Sept 2021

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