Re-shoring: A critical analysis of how legal policy is shaping the future of the maritime shipping industry and the blue economy

In the process of globalization and rapid economic transformation, reshoring has emerged as an important strategy in the reworking of industrial landscapes, especially offshoring. This thesis provides a critical analysis of the interaction between reshoring efforts and legal policies and examines how these are universally present in the future growth of the offshoring industry and more broadly the blue economy. This transformation is driven by sustainable industrial, economic, technological, and universal forces, which are the cornerstones of global trade and commerce and are leading the changes. In recent years, we have witnessed the development of reshoring, which aims to increase the sales and sustainability of the supply chain, shifting what is produced, returning production and logistics to local or regional shores of operation. This thesis investigates the dynamics of successful markets, geopolitical changes and how they shape their strategies; it addresses the longitudinal frameworks, incentives, and legal implications of reshoring efforts. It investigates the current global offshore competitive industry, the rise and perceived failure of offshore, and whether reshoring trends, including legal and interests, are present on the sector at both micro and macro levels. In addition, it assesses whether existing maritime law legislation, including international conventions and other legal instruments, is equipped to manage the major change in reshoring and suggests any necessary adaptations. Using qualitative research, this thesis analyses the potential of contemporary trends across legal, environmental, economic, and commercial sectors as the maritime diversity articulates itself in the face of global crises and developments. The research aims to fill gaps in the existing literature, particularly on modern reshoring procedures, and provide a nuanced understanding of how legal policy can promote maritime activities towards sustainable and resilient reshoring records. Through this comprehensive plan, this thesis contributes valuable knowledge to the reshoring environment, guiding the replication, uptake, and impact of legal regulations on implementation.