Shipping Law Course

Lesson 1 • Vessel Classification and Registration

Covers how vessels are legally defined, classified, and registered under a flag state. Registration determines the law applicable to the vessel and its crew.

Lesson 2 • Overview of Maritime Jurisdiction

Explains how courts and tribunals assert authority over maritime disputes. Students understand jurisdictional concepts before studying substantive rights.

Lesson 3 • Key Parties in Shipping Transactions

Introduces the principal actors in a shipping transaction and their legal roles. Understanding party relationships is essential for analysing rights and obligations.

Lesson 4 • Nature and Scope of Shipping Law

Defines shipping law as a distinct legal discipline and maps its boundaries. Grounds students in the subject before introducing specific rules.

Lesson 1 • International Carriage Regimes

Compares the major international frameworks regulating sea carriage liability. Students apply the correct regime to a given carriage scenario.

Lesson 2 • Freight and Payment Obligations

Covers when freight is earned, how it is calculated, and remedies for non-payment. Freight disputes are a frequent source of commercial litigation.

Lesson 3 • Carrier Obligations and Defenses

Details the carrier's duties regarding seaworthiness and cargo care, plus available defences. Connects liability rules to practical claims handling.

Lesson 4 • Bills of Lading: Form and Function

Examines the bill of lading as a receipt, document of title, and evidence of contract. Central to understanding cargo claims and financing.

Lesson 1 • Charterparty Breach and Termination

Analyses conditions, warranties, and innominate terms in charterparties and the consequences of breach. Students apply termination principles to realistic scenarios.

Lesson 2 • Sub-Chartering and Assignment

Addresses the legal consequences of sub-chartering and the limits on assignment of charter rights. Privity issues arise frequently in multi-party shipping chains.

Lesson 3 • Voyage Charter Obligations

Examines the duties of owners and charterers under a voyage charter from nomination to completion. Laytime and demurrage are the most litigated areas.

Lesson 4 • Types of Charterparties

Distinguishes voyage, time, and bareboat charters by their legal character and commercial purpose. Correct classification determines which rules apply.

Lesson 1 • Protection and Indemnity Clubs

Explains the mutual insurance structure of P&I clubs and the liabilities they cover. P&I cover is essential for shipowners facing third-party claims.

Lesson 2 • Principles of Marine Insurance

Establishes the foundational doctrines unique to marine insurance contracts. These principles underpin every coverage and claims analysis.

Lesson 3 • Cargo Insurance

Covers the standard cargo clauses, their scope, and common exclusions. Cargo insurance is the most frequently used marine insurance product.

Lesson 4 • Hull and Machinery Insurance

Examines coverage for physical loss or damage to the vessel under standard hull policies. Students interpret policy clauses and apply them to casualty scenarios.

Lesson 1 • Maritime Liens

Explains the nature, ranking, and enforcement of maritime liens against a vessel. Liens travel with the ship and survive changes of ownership.

Lesson 2 • Ship Mortgages and Security

Covers the creation, registration, and enforcement of ship mortgages as financing instruments. Mortgages are central to vessel acquisition and fleet finance.

Lesson 3 • Admiralty Jurisdiction and Claims

Maps the categories of claim that attract admiralty jurisdiction and the procedural routes available. Jurisdiction is the threshold issue in every maritime dispute.

Lesson 4 • Arrest of Ships

Details the procedural steps and legal requirements for arresting a vessel as security. Arrest is the primary enforcement tool in maritime law.

Lesson 1 • Towage Contracts

Examines the legal relationship between tug and tow and the allocation of risk. Towage terms differ significantly from salvage and carriage contracts.

Lesson 2 • General Average Principles

Explains the doctrine requiring all cargo interests to share extraordinary sacrifices made for common safety. General average is unique to maritime law.

Lesson 3 • Wreck Removal Obligations

Addresses the legal duties to remove wrecks and the allocation of costs among parties. Wreck removal liability has grown with environmental regulation.

Lesson 4 • Collision Liability

Establishes the legal framework for apportioning fault and loss following a vessel collision. Collision law blends delictual principles with maritime-specific rules.

Lesson 1 • Pilotage Law

Covers the legal regime for compulsory and voluntary pilotage and the allocation of liability for pilot error. Pilotage liability is a recurring source of disputes.

Lesson 2 • Terminal Operator Liability

Analyses the duties and liability of terminal operators for cargo and vessel damage. Terminal contracts often limit liability through standard conditions.

Lesson 3 • Dangerous Goods and Port Safety

Covers the legal obligations for handling and declaring dangerous cargo in port. Non-compliance exposes shippers and carriers to criminal and civil liability.

Lesson 4 • Port State Control and Inspections

Examines the authority of port states to inspect and detain vessels for safety deficiencies. Port state control is a key enforcement mechanism in maritime regulation.

Lesson 1 • Incident Response and Liability

Covers the legal duties triggered by a pollution incident and the consequences of non-compliance. Prompt and correct response limits both liability and penalties.

Lesson 2 • Ballast Water and Invasive Species

Examines the legal obligations for ballast water management to prevent biological invasions. Compliance requires both technical and documentary measures.

Lesson 3 • Oil Pollution Liability and Compensation

Covers the strict liability regime for oil spills and the international compensation funds. Students calculate potential liability and identify available compensation sources.

Lesson 4 • International Pollution Prevention Framework

Maps the treaty-based regime controlling vessel-source pollution across all media. Understanding the framework is prerequisite to applying specific discharge rules.