Both of these books, like Singh’s already familiar four-volume hardback International Maritime Conventions (1983), aim to cover similar subject-matter. On original publication, Professor Arroyo’s single volume hardback was, measured by the number of pages, the longer work but, measured by word length, it has been convincingly overtaken by The Ratification of Maritime Conventions, first published in two, but subsequently expanded within three, looseleaf volumes. In fact, though bearing the more restrictive title, the latter work is decidedly more comprehensive and, given the nature of the work, will inevitably become increasingly so.

The collections of conventions are divided into sections in each book. Arroyo lists: international organisations (intergovernmental and non-governmental); law of the sea (law of the sea and seabed; protection of the marine environment and pollution; and international straits and channels, navigable waterways and harbours); navigation, safety and maritime traffic; seamen (working conditions, certificates of capacity, and welfare and social security); and maritime trade (the ship and the maritime lien; shipowners’ liability and limitation of liability; contracts for the operation of the ship; and maritime accidents). Ratifications lists: public international law; jurisdiction, arbitration and enforcement (jurisdiction and enforcement; arbitration; choice of law; and limitation of liability); safety and navigation (construction and safety; and navigation and communications); property transactions and rights (liens, mortgages and registration of ships; and factoring and financial leasing); carriage of goods and passengers; employment; and pollution conventions (vessel and land-based pollution; and regional environmental protection). These lists reveal differences in the organisation of subject-matter (which is perhaps not surprising—and certainly not necessarily a