Book excerpt: The book examines and analyses in depth the specific issues which are currently occupying the marine insurance markets and the law. The London market is currently re-examining its practices and international competitiveness; and the English case law is growing significantly. The issues identified in the book are the “fundamental issues” on which marine insurance law is based, and which are in the process of being re-examined and developed further to respond to the needs of modern insurance practice. They are of wider interest to insurance law in general and the evolution of English law is analysed against the backdrop of legal developments in Europe and Scandinavia.