ABSTRACT
In the fi rst 110 years of its existence the CMI has taken enormous strides towards
the ultimate goal of uniformity of private international maritime law in all its
aspects. When the CMI started its pioneering work, its initial target was the crea-
tion of a universal maritime code. It was quickly realized that this would be an
impossible task. Thereafter the process has necessarily been piecemeal and has
produced numerous international conventions, rules, codes, model laws and
guidelines. Many of these instruments have been the work of the CMI alone but,
since the 1960s, various UN agencies have taken over much of the responsibility
for seeking uniformity. Very few aspects of the shipping trade have escaped atten-
tion and analysis.
