This seminar examined the United Nations Convention on the International Effects of Judicial Sales of Ships, commonly known as the Beijing Convention, which entered into force on 17 February 2026. As ships are often owned, financed, mortgaged, arrested, sold and re-registered across multiple jurisdictions, the Convention addresses a practical issue of considerable importance to maritime commerce: whether a purchaser in a judicial sale can obtain clean title that will be recognised internationally.

Moderated by Dr Anthony Neoh SC JP, Chairman of AAIL, the seminar brought together leading voices from international law, maritime legal practice, shipping finance and Hong Kong’s maritime administration. Ms Anna Joubin-Bret, The Secretary of UNCITRAL, delivered a video presentation on the Convention and its international context. Mr Li Lianjun, Senior Partner of Reed Smith Richards Butler LLP, Mr Logan Chong, a former member of the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board who also headed shipping finance of several global leading financial institutions, and Mr Eric W. C. Lee, General Manager of Ship Registration and Quality of the Hong Kong Marine Department, shared insights from the perspectives of lawyers, financiers, government and industry. Sir William Blair, an independent arbitrator and a prestigious judge of the London Commercial Court – the forum for many international maritime cases, delivered the closing remarks.

The discussion highlighted the Convention’s significance in promoting legal certainty, facilitating cross-border recognition of judicial sales, and supporting confidence in international maritime commerce. For more information, please refer to the AAIL Research Paper on the Convention, and the full text of The Convention with explanatory note prepared by the UNCITRAL Secretariat.