This training provides a thorough understanding of maritime and shipping law, focusing on the legal frameworks that govern international trade, vessel operations, shipping contracts, marine insurance, and dispute resolution. Participants will gain a deep appreciation of how maritime law intersects with global commerce, environmental regulation, and international conventions such as UNCLOS, IMO, and Hague-Visby Rules. Through a combination of lectures, case analyses, and practical exercises, this program equips legal and maritime professionals with the knowledge to manage complex legal issues related to carriage of goods, charterparties, marine liability, insurance claims, and port operations. Participants will also explore contemporary topics such as sustainability, maritime security, and the legal implications of digitalization in shipping.
Secure enrollment • Professional certificate included
Learning Objectives
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
Understand the foundations and sources of maritime and admiralty law.
Interpret and apply international conventions and national maritime regulations.
Draft and analyze key maritime contracts, including charterparties and bills of lading.
Manage disputes involving collisions, salvage, limitation of liability, and cargo claims.
Navigate marine insurance frameworks and risk allocation principles.
Evaluate emerging legal challenges such as piracy, environmental compliance, and digital shipping documentation.
Course Content
Module 1: Foundations of Maritime and Admiralty Law Key Study Areas: Nature and scope of maritime law Historical development and sources of admiralty jurisdiction Structure of international maritime governance (IMO, UNCLOS, ILO) National vs. international maritime legislation Case Studies: The “Lotus” Case (France v. Turkey) Application of UNCLOS in maritime boundary disputes Activities: Map the hierarchy of international maritime legal instruments Group exercise: analyzing flag state vs. port state jurisdiction
Module 2: Ship Ownership, Registration, and Nationality Key Study Areas: Legal status and registration of vessels Flag state control and obligations Bareboat charter registration Ship mortgages and liens Case Studies: Open registries and “flags of convenience” controversies Legal implications of dual registration Activities: Draft a vessel registration application Compare national ship registry frameworks
Module 3: Charterparties and Carriage of Goods by Sea Key Study Areas: Types of charterparties (voyage, time, bareboat) Key clauses: hire, laytime, demurrage, off-hire, and safe port obligations Bills of lading: legal nature, evidentiary role, and transfer of rights International conventions: Hague-Visby, Hamburg, and Rotterdam Rules Case Studies: Carriage of Goods by Sea Act (COGSA) applications Charterparty disputes and liability allocation Activities: Draft and review a time charterparty Role-play: negotiating a charterparty agreement
Module 4: Marine Insurance Law Key Study Areas: Principles of marine insurance: insurable interest, utmost good faith, indemnity Types of marine policies (hull, cargo, P&I, freight) Subrogation, warranties, and claims procedures The Institute Clauses and Lloyd’s market standards Case Studies: Marine insurance fraud cases Policy interpretation under English and international law Activities: Draft a sample marine insurance policy clause Analyze a claim dispute between shipowner and insurer
Module 5: Collision, Salvage, and Limitation of Liability Key Study Areas: Legal principles of maritime collisions Salvage operations and remuneration under the Salvage Convention 1989 General average and apportionment of loss Limitation of shipowners’ liability (LLMC Convention) Case Studies: The “Tojo Maru” case Modern collision and salvage disputes Activities: Simulate a maritime collision liability hearing Calculate limitation funds under the LLMC Convention
Module 6: Port Operations and Maritime Liabilities Key Study Areas: Legal status and obligations of port authorities Port state control and ship inspection regimes Terminal handling and cargo liability issues Legal aspects of maritime logistics and supply chain operations Case Studies: Liability for port accidents and environmental contamination Port detention and cargo claim disputes Activities: Conduct a mock compliance audit of a port operation Draft a port services agreement
Module 7: Environmental Regulation and Marine Pollution Law Key Study Areas: MARPOL Convention and pollution prevention frameworks Oil spill liability and compensation mechanisms (CLC, Fund Conventions) Ballast water management and ship recycling regulations Corporate environmental responsibility in shipping Case Studies: The “Exxon Valdez” and “Erika” oil spill litigations IMO’s decarbonization initiatives and compliance enforcement Activities: Draft an environmental compliance plan for a shipping company Group analysis: evaluating an oil spill response case
Module 8: Maritime Security and Risk Management Key Study Areas: Piracy and armed robbery at sea Maritime terrorism, smuggling, and cyber threats Legal aspects of private maritime security companies (PMSCs) International cooperation and naval enforcement under UNCLOS Case Studies: Somali piracy prosecutions Legal implications of cyberattacks on maritime infrastructure Activities: Develop a risk management policy for a shipping operator Simulate a piracy response scenario under international law
Module 9: Dispute Resolution in Maritime Law Key Study Areas: Jurisdiction and applicable law in maritime disputes Admiralty court procedures and maritime arbitration Enforcement of maritime judgments and arbitral awards Role of the London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA) and ICC Case Studies: Arbitration clauses in charterparties and bills of lading Enforcement challenges in cross-border maritime claims Activities: Conduct a mock maritime arbitration hearing Draft an arbitration clause for a charterparty agreement Module 10: Emerging Issues and Future Directions in Maritime Law Key Study Areas: Digitalization in shipping: e-bills of lading and blockchain logistics Autonomous ships and liability frameworks Decarbonization and green shipping initiatives ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) compliance in the maritime sector Case Studies: Legal implications of autonomous vessels Smart contracts in shipping and digital trade documentation Activities: Design a compliance roadmap for a sustainable shipping company Final project: draft a maritime law policy brief on a selected global issue
Who Should Attend
This course is designed for lawyers, in-house counsel, maritime regulators, shipowners, charterers, insurers, port authorities, shipping company executives, freight forwarders, and logistics professionals. It is also ideal for government officials, maritime policy advisors, and legal scholars specializing in international trade and transportation law.
