ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores the notion of war or exclusion zones. It addresses the legal aspects of mine warfare at sea. The book focuses on maritime neutrality –the peculiar collection of ‘mays’ and ‘may nots’ which has sought throughout the centuries to reconcile the necessities of warfare with the boons of commerce, to seize the ever ephemeral equilibrium between the military laurels of some and the trade gains of others. It also explores the various concepts apart from contraband which make up what one calls ‘prize law’, that is to say the procedural rights of interference with neutral shipping such as visit and search, diversion and capture, but also the legal constructions upon which the eventual condemnation of the seized vessel is justified such as the ideas of continuous voyage, unneutral service or enemy convoying.
