This special edition of MEL features a selection of outstanding papers that were presented during the event. 1 Under the conference theme 'Maritime Economics -setting the foundations for port and shipping policies', the organisers aimed to encourage papers which are of particular interest to the public sector and policy-makers. Topics such as shipping alliances, the regulation of ports, the economic impact of transport corridors, future intermodal and transshipment patterns, and the relationship between transport costs and trade were considered to be of increasing relevance for policy-makers in Latin America and other regions. It was felt that a meeting of maritime economists under this conference theme would be of mutual interest for researchers and for those dealing with ports and shipping matters in the public sector.This present special issue of MEL includes some of the most interesting contributions in this regard. The first two papers look at regulatory aspects in shipping and ports, the third and fourth paper deal with trade and transport corridors, and the last two papers analyse the relationship between trade and transport costs. Furthermore, the issue also includes a policy perspective from the Panama Canal and a book review covering