Association of International Maritime Law Association was found in 1968.

The Foundation Meeting of Association was held in Moscow in December of 1968. Among the founders of Association were well know maritime lawyers and merchant seamen I. Averin, P.Barabolya, Z. Bogomolova,T. Guzhenko, Y. Dzhavad, A. Judro, A. Kolodkin, A. Makovskiy, G. Maslov, V. Meshera, A. Postnikov, A. Saveljev, V.Chuvelev.

Association has joint Comite Maritime International (CMI) in 1969(as from 2017 the membership in CMI has been frozen).

Among members of Associations there are lawyers working for shipping companies, merchant sea ports, academicians, students, civil servants.

Shortly after its foundation Association was recognized as a leading fellowship in maritime law in the USSR.

Members of Association actively have participated in preparation and adoption of important international maritime conventions such as United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,1982; UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, 2001; UN Convention on Conditions for Registration of Ships, 1986; UN Convention on the Carriage of Goods by Sea, 1978; Convention on the International Maritime Satellite Organization (INMARSAT), 1974; Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation, 1988; Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf, 1988 as well as Protocols amending them; International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 as well Protocols and Amendments to them; International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1969 and Protocols to it; International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1971 and Protocols to it; Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, 1979; International Convention on Salvage, 1989; International Convention on the Arrest of Ships, 1999; The Nairobi International Convention on the Removal Wrecks, 2007; the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Carriage of Goods Wholly or Partly by Sea,2008 and others.

Members of Association are actively involved in drafting national legislative acts governing shipping, in determining position of the country for participation in international conventions, represent shipping community and country in various international governmental and nongovernmental organizations including IMO, UNCTAD, ICS, BIMCO etc.