Rethinking environmental salvage and salvage law

Abstract

Uncertainties render ex ante risk assessment in life difficult but without uncertainties, this PhD dissertation wouldn't exist. It feels like just the day before yesterday that I was in the temporary Sanders Law Library in the Mandeville Building at Erasmus University Rotterdam, searching for a topic for my master's thesis. It was there that I stumbled upon the captivating world of maritime law of salvage, setting the course for the journey that brings me to this moment. It feels like just yesterday that I was in the university library at Erasmus and my dearest friend Dr Yifei Wang calmly showed me a paper by Michael. I clearly remember she said to me, 'Haiyang, take a photo of this name, you might want to apply for a PhD under his supervision.'In August 2019, I moved to Maastricht to start my PhD journey under the supervision of Michael and Ton. Dear Michael, words are not enough to express my gratitude for your guidance. You gave me all the freedom to be the captain of the PhD research project and salved me when I was lost in the uncharted territories of law and economics. The thought that you are my supervisor always gives me the strength to get through all the difficult times and uncertainties. Dear Ton, whose words can turn into law, it is such a privilege to be supervised by you. Thank you for always giving this project priority, even if it meant you would have to cancel your meeting in the Hague (luckily it didn't happen). Dear Marina, your work behind the scenes made this happen and I am grateful for being treated like family. Dear Marjo, it's such a pleasure to work with you for the Ius Commune PhD training programme. Dear Licette, you are simply amazing! Also, dear Niels, thank you for teaching me the fundamentals of L&E and dear Marjan, thank you for looking after me as the independent reviewer. Besides the official supervision and supporting team, I would like to thank the members of the assessment committee for your efforts in improving this thesis, namely, Professor Jos Hamers (chair), Dr. Kristel de Smedt, Professor Louis Visscher (also for your amazing feedback at the Future of L&E conferences) and Professor Wouter Verheyen.