Introduction

Key aspects of this fundamental component of maritime operations law have been the subject of extensive analysis and incorporation into national doctrines over many years. A second set of treaties relevant to maritime operations are those that concern the conduct of armed conflict at sea. The second key body of rules relevant to maritime operations law is customary international law. Indeed, as has been noted of the law applicable to armed conflict at sea, this body of relevant international law is to be found mainly in rules of customary law derived from state practice. The importance and influence of cases and incidents that occur at sea – both in peacetime, and during armed conflict – and which exert a fundamental influence over state practice at sea, is therefore perhaps especially notable; some key examples are the rules around best practice at sea when conducting hot pursuit and the evolution of Cold War incidents at sea management arrangements.