4th International Scientific Conference on Maritime Law: Modern Challenges of Marine Navigation took place in Split from 13th to 14th April 2023. Organisers of the 4th International Scientific Conference on Maritime Law, which is traditionally being held in Split, are the Faculty of Law, University of Split and the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts (Adriatic Institute), Zagreb. The Conference was held under the auspices of the President of the Republic of Croatia, the Ministry of Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Science and Education, the City of Split, the Croatian Maritime Law Association and Split-Dalmatia County, and with the support of the Croatian Chamber of Economy.

Over 50 participants coming from Malta, the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Spain, Serbia, Poland, Australia, the USA, Croatia, Slovenia, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, France and Belgium participated in the programme, which demonstrates that the Conference is growing and transforming into a scientific event that is recognised worldwide. 37 presentations on novelties and challenges of contemporary maritime law were held at the Conference, with a special mention of keynote speakers: Dr Fenech, President of the CMI; Professor Emeritus D. Rhidian Thomas, Founding Director of the Institute for Shipping and Trade Law at the School of Law, Swansea; Atty. Giorgio Berlingieri, President of the Italian Maritime Law Association; and Professor Norman A. Martínez Gutiérrez, Director of the IMO International Maritime Law Institute.

The Book of Proceedings of the 4th International Scientific Conference on Maritime Law: Modern Challenges of Marine Navigation, published by the Faculty of Law, University of Split, features part of the academic papers, which were presented at the Conference and passed the double-blind international peer review procedure.

Employees of the Adriatic Institute Vesna Skorupan Wolff, PhD, the manager of the Adriatic Institute, Božena Bulum, PhD and Associate Professor Adriana Vincenca Padovan, PhD, participated as members of the Organising Committee, of the Editorial Board of the Book of Proceedings of the Conference and as speakers and authors of scientific papers presented at the Conference.

We can state with certainty that the International Scientific Conference on Maritime Law (ISCML, Split) has grown into an important international scientific event, recognized by distinguished scholars and practitioners in the field of maritime law. We would like to express our appreciation to Prof. Petra Amižić Jelovčić, PhD, the president of the organising committee, for successful collaboration, as well as to all the members of the organising committee, honorary organising committee, sponsors, keynote speakers, all the conference participants, and everyone who contributed to the realisation of this important project for us. The 5th International Scientific Conference on Maritime Law: Modern Challenges of Marine Navigation will be held in Split in 2025.