NMMU Law professor, Patrick Vrancken recently published a monograph entitled South Africa and the Law of the Sea which has been lauded as a significant contribution to this branch of international law in a South African context. Maritime law was always dominated by the developed world as if all the real things were happening there and that what happens in the rest of the world was insignificant.
The world view is, however, no longer in a position to responsibly argue that they know all the answers, says Prof Vrancken.
The monograph is a first for Prof Vrancken, and for Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s Law Faculty. Having edited and co-authored two other books, this is the first one he has written singlehandedly.
Law Dean Prof Vivienne Lawack-Davids, said at the launch of the monograph that it is worth celebrating the fact that Prof Vrancken has reached a personal milestone and contributed to a milestone for the faculty.
“We are immensely proud of him and we know that he will be available to colleagues for advice and useful pointers,” she said.
Prof Vrancken says that research has been the best part of his academic life and that he is grateful to Prof Lawack-Davids who has given him the time to spend on his research.
“The magic formula for completing a monograph is focus, more focus and perseverance. The trick when starting to focus on the task at hand, is to do it – despite other pressures, distractions and attractions. You have to be focused within your research – perseverance comes in when you focus for long enough,” he says.
In the foreword, international law expert John Dugard writes that South Africa and the Law of the Sea is “unquestionably the most comprehensive monograph on a branch of international law as it is applied in South Africa. It is thoroughly researched, well written and carefully presented. It will guide South African legal practitioners, policy-makers, legislators, teachers and students of law, environmentalists, historians and all those involved in the law of the sea.”
Alan Straton
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