Liber Amicorum in Loving Memory of Prof. Dr. A. N. YIANNOPOULOS ( Current Problems in International Maritime Law )

Prof. Thanassi Yiannopoulos, my professor, my mentor, my dear friend, the person who believed in me as an academic and encouraged me to organize the Congress of International Maritime and Admiralty Law, passed away on February 1st 2017. I’ve first met Prof. Yiannopoulos during my visit to Tulane University in 1999. I will never forget how much he helped me for my Ph.D. thesis during my visit. After my return to Istanbul we kept in touch and a few years later he invited me back to Tulane University as a visiting scholar. He gave me the opportunity to attend the revisional meetings of Louisiana Civil Code. As a young academician, I was privileged and very excited to attend those meetings. Later he invited me to Tulane University Summer School Programme in Rhodes, where I’ve met fascinating professors and lifetime friends. In my last visit to Tulane University, he encouraged me to organize a symposium in Istanbul where academics in maritime law from all around the world can participate. He loved Istanbul and this was also a way to revisit his beloved city. At first, I explained to him the difficulties in organizing such an event the first time by myself as I did not know where to start and how to find financing. But he had such an unwavering confidence in me and always encouraged me to pursue this endeavor by following up the progress and offering his advice throughout the process. I was so excited when I first called to tell him the congress was going to happen and was genuinely touched by his calmness and reassuring tone. He had no doubt I would succeed. In 2010, with the support of Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Directorate General of Coastal Safety and Turkish Chamber of Shipping, various practitioners in maritime law and some shipping companies, the first “International Congress of Maritime and Admiralty Law” took place. After the successful completion of the first symposium, he strongly encouraged and advised me the congress should be a recurring event and I should spearhead its continuum. With his encouragement, trust, moral support and with the support of Turkish Ministry of Justice, the “International Congress of Maritime and Admiralty Law” is now an event recurring every two years since 2010. It was such an honor for me to organize an event of this stature and could not have done without his support. Due to his ailing health, he was unable to attend the last two symposia but he made sure to participate by providing keynote speeches. After losing my father recently, losing Prof. Yiannopoulos was a devastating event for me and words are not enough to express my sorrow and sadness. I needed to do something. To honor my mentor, confidant and dear friend, I decided to publish this book in loving memory of him. Prof. Yiannopoulos was the intellectual inspiration behind this congress and having this volume include the works from prior participants would be the best way to honor him.

I thank all contributors for their participation for this book in such a short period of time.