The IX European Colloquium of Maritime Law Research (ECLMR) will meet at Bilbao, in this new edition, leading European maritime law researchers on 14th and 15th September 2016. These meetings which have been organized biannually since 2000 in various European cities (Oslo 2000; Southampton 2002 Bologna / Ravenna, 2004, Nantes 2006, Athens 2008, Swansea 2010, Messina / Palemo, 2012 and Rotterdam, 2014),  arise from the initiative of Prof. Erik Røsæg (Scandinavian Institute of Maritime law-University of Oslo / Norway), who in collaboration with the University of Southampton undertsood the necessity to bring to maritime law researchers a space for reflection and debate about these issues. This time, the issue to address is the "Maritime liens, Mortgages and Forced sale of ships" and during it, there will be a panel where members of the Maritime Work Watch will describe from the labor law perspective considerations regarding wage claims, abandonment and protection of seafarers in such situations.