This text provides an explanation of the responsibilities and liabilities of the shipbroker, both in direct contact with principles and as part of a chain of other brokers.

Highlighting legal questions arising from ways in which the broker's business is done, issues addressed in this book include potential legal liabilities as well as common negligence claims. The book also deals with the shipbroker's entitlement to commission and the problems associated with litigation in this area.

It is suitable for ship owners, charterers, agents and marine consultants, as well as brokers.

During the Iran-Iraq war, hundreds of merchant vessels were attacked, more than 400 seamen killed and millions of dollars' worth of damages were suffered by owners, charterers and insurers. In the most sustained assault on merchant shipping since the Second World War, the control of shipping routes, destruction of enemy and enemy-allied ships, and the protection of oil exports, were key objectives.
These campaigns touched the economic and security interests of the Gulf states by threatening their exports and highlighting their political and military vulnerability. The ripples of the tanker wars extended well beyond the region with attacks on vessels with foreign flags which invoked international concern and drew in foreign naval forces.