The Malta Maritime Law Association (MMLA) was set up in 1994 with the aim of promoting the study and advancement of Maritime Law and its administration. The Association plays a key role in ensuring that the Maltese maritime legislative and regulatory infrastructure is constantly updated, amended and improved in order to enhance qualitative standards and consolidate Malta’s preeminent position as an international maritime service centre. The MMLA works in close cooperation with the authorities, acting as a consultant and adviser to the Merchant Shipping Directorate and fostering channels of communication between Government and industry.
Over the past years the MMLA has also become a forum for debate through the organization of seminars and conferences on topical issues in the maritime context under participation of national and international speakers.
The MMLA is affiliated with the Comité Maritime International (CMI), the oldest international organization in the maritime field formally established in in 1897 and one of the first NGOs to be granted consultative status by the IMO. The CMI is responsible for the drafting of international maritime conventions and thus sends Observers to all meetings of the IMO Legal Committee. In 2014, Dr. Ann Fenech, President of the MMLA was nominated and elected to the CMI Executive Council by the other national maritime law associations from around the world. This is the first time that a Maltese person has been elected to this highly prestigious international body.
At present the MMLA has 86 members which come from the various sectors of the shipping industry in Malta.