Wolff Heintschel von Heinegg
German naval-law professor at European University Viadrina; authority on armed conflict at sea and the San Remo Manual.
Last refreshed: 9 May 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Does von Heinegg think the smokestack strikes violated the San Remo Manual?
Timeline for Wolff Heintschel von Heinegg
Mentioned in: F/A-18 disables tankers via smokestack on 8 May
Iran Conflict 2026- Who is Wolff Heintschel von Heinegg?
- A German professor of public international law at European University Viadrina, specialising in law of armed conflict at sea and the San Remo Manual. He participated in drafting the Manual.
- What does von Heinegg say about disabling ships in armed conflict?
- Von Heinegg's analysis of San Remo Manual Rule 67 addresses when neutral merchant vessels lose protection. He examined whether the US smokestack-strike method meets proportionality requirements.Source: European University Viadrina
- Who wrote the San Remo Manual on naval warfare law?
- The San Remo Manual was produced by a group of international law experts convened by the International Institute of Humanitarian Law, including Wolff Heintschel von Heinegg.Source: International Institute of Humanitarian Law
Background
Wolff Heintschel von Heinegg is a professor of public international law at European University Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder), Germany, and one of Europe's foremost scholars on the law of armed conflict at sea. He has participated in the expert group that produced the San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea and has written extensively on naval blockades, visit and search rights, and the law of naval warfare.
His 2026 analysis of the US tanker strikes focused on the application of San Remo Manual Rule 67 to the smokestack-bombing technique: specifically, whether disabling a vessel's propulsion constitutes a proportionate use of force against a neutral merchant vessel alleged to be carrying contraband, and whether the EEZ context of the strikes under UNCLOS Article 58 changes the analysis.
Von Heinegg brings a European continental perspective to naval law questions that often diverges from Anglo-American interpretations — particularly on the scope of belligerent rights versus neutral-state protections, an area of renewed relevance as non-US states assess their exposure to US enforcement operations in the Persian Gulf.