Starting with an analysis of the importance of uniformity, this Article gives a brief history of the search for uniformity and examines the role of the various governmental and nongovernmental bodies, which have been involved over the years. Consideration is given to the range of instruments by which uniformity may best be achieved; the Article also explains the difference between public law and private law conventions. The current issues under consideration by the IMO Legal Committee and the CMI are discussed and the problems of implementation are examined. Rationalization of the many conventions into a single third-party liability convention is considered and rejected and the treaty obligations of those states which ratify a convention are explained.