SHIPPING IN THE BALTIC SEA

The development of maritime law in the Baltic Area is deeply rooted in the development of shipping in this area as such. Different forms of shipping organisation, differences in the make-up of the crew as well as differences in the kind of trade had an impact on the development of law.

Seen under this light, the development of maritime law in our modern understanding started with the invention of the sail in this area approximately in the 7th or 8th century. Crews on oared ships, used in this area up to this period, had their own organisation and inner structure which certainly left traces in the later laws, but the new – and economical – possibilities offered by sailing expedited another mould of maritime law.

In the beginning there were six groups major involved in merchant sailing in the Baltic area: Scandinavians, the men of the island of Gotland, Slavs, the inhabitants of the Baltic south coast, Samis, the inhabitants of the northern part of Scandinavia, Russians and possibly Frisians from the North Sea area.