Wang Hui was born on 24 December 1977 in the harbour city Dalian in the north-east of China. The close link with the sea took her to study at Dalian Maritime University between 1996 and 2000 for a degree of bachelor of law. Then she studied at the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium) in the LL.M programme. Later she returned to China to work for a maritime firm CMA CGM (Compagnie Maritime d'Affretement Compagnie General Maritime) where she has obtained more experience with the maritime practice. In September 2003, she went back to Catholic University of Leuven to pursue further research at