Short course300 h · Online · 5 modules

Shipping and International Trade Course

This course gives you a complete view of maritime transport and its key role in global trade. You will learn how commercial shipping, routes and chokepoints work, how to handle bills of lading, contracts, Incoterms, bookings and customs, how ports and terminals connect sea and land in the supply chain, and how to design a complete maritime operation from origin to final delivery, with its risks and contingencies.

Duration300 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules5
Program diagnosis

Prior knowledge check

These are the skills this program gives you. Tick the ones you already master and we will tell you which part of the syllabus is for you.

Your diagnosis
6of 6 to cover

You are starting from scratch in this subject. The program is designed precisely for that.

About the program

What is the Shipping and International Trade Course?

This short course brings together shipping and foreign trade in a single, practical program. You will study the essentials of commercial navigation, the structure of today's international trade and its strategic corridors, cargo types and maritime services, the main players from shipping lines and shippers to forwarders and customs, the major sea routes and chokepoints, voyage planning and geopolitical risk, trade documentation and contracts, Incoterms, port and customs procedures, terminal operations and sea-land integration.

What sets this course apart: a constant link between what happens at sea and the commercial and documentary side of the operation; practical attention to route selection, transit times and costs; a clear explanation of how risks, costs and responsibilities pass between the parties; coverage of customs compliance and terminal operations by type of cargo; and a final project in which you design a complete maritime shipment, from the product and Incoterm to the final distribution.

Program typeShort course
ModeOnline
Duration300 hours
Modules5
Start1 December

Program highlights

  • How commercial shipping works: routes, port calls, ship types and cargo services.
  • Global sea routes, chokepoints and the geopolitical factors that affect them.
  • Trade documentation: bills of lading, manifests, packing lists and certificates.
  • Contracts of carriage and sale, Incoterms and the transfer of risk and cost.
  • Ports, customs procedures, terminal operations and sea-land integration.
  • Final project: the design of a complete international sea shipment.
Syllabus

Syllabus of the Shipping and International Trade Course

5 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

Fundamentals of maritime navigation and international trade within global supply chains

  • 1.1. Essential concepts of commercial shipping: routes, port calls, ship types and the operating logic of ocean transport
  • 1.2. The structure of contemporary international trade: global flows, strategic corridors and the role of maritime transport in the world economy
  • 1.3. The relationship between shipping, ports, terminals and international logistics: functional integration of sea, land and distribution nodes
  • 1.4. Types of cargo and maritime services: containers, bulk, general cargo, ro-ro, reefer and project cargo
  • 1.5. The main players in maritime trade: shipping lines, shippers, freight forwarders, ship agents, port operators and customs authorities
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 2

Sea routes, the economic geography of transport and commercial voyage planning in global scenarios

  • 2.1. The main international sea routes: transpacific, transatlantic and Europe-Asia corridors and high-density regional networks
  • 2.2. Chokepoints and strategic passages of world trade: canals, straits and congestion areas and their impact on commercial shipping
  • 2.3. Planning commercial voyages: distance, weather, operating restrictions, safety and fuel efficiency
  • 2.4. Geopolitical and regulatory factors affecting routes: conflicts, sanctions, blockades, high-risk areas and state controls
  • 2.5. Integrating port calls and voyage sequences: rotations, berthing windows, port times and logistics synchronization
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 3

Documentation, contracting and commercial operations of maritime transport in international trade

  • 3.1. Basic documentation in international maritime trade: bills of lading, manifests, packing lists, certificates and transport documents
  • 3.2. Contracts of carriage by sea and international sale contracts: obligations of the parties, allocation of risk and documentary evidence
  • 3.3. Incoterms and their relationship with shipping and international logistics: transfer of costs, risks and operational responsibilities
  • 3.4. Reservations, bookings and shipping instructions and the coordination of documents between exporter, shipping line, agent and terminal
  • 3.5. Operational cargo management at origin and destination: consolidation, documentary stowage, release, delivery and incident control
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 4

Ports, customs and international logistics processes linked to commercial shipping

  • 4.1. The role of ports in international trade: logistics nodes, multimodal platforms and hubs that link global supply chains
  • 4.2. Processes for goods entering and leaving by sea: gate, terminal, inspection, clearance and coordination with the hinterland
  • 4.3. Customs, border controls and regulatory compliance: tariff classification, inspections, release and supporting documentation
  • 4.4. Maritime terminal operations by cargo type: containers, bulk, ro-ro, reefer cargo and dangerous goods
  • 4.5. Sea-land integration of the logistics chain: rail, road, warehouses, logistics zones and onward distribution
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 5

Integrated shipping and international trade project: designing a complete maritime operation from a technical, commercial and logistics perspective

  • 5.1. Defining the case study: product, origin and destination markets, type of cargo, port of loading and port of discharge
  • 5.2. Selecting the maritime service and designing the commercial route: port calls, estimated times, restrictions and main costs
  • 5.3. Structuring the documents and contracts of the operation: Incoterm, carriage, insurance, commercial documents and coordination between the parties
  • 5.4. Designing the full logistics sequence: loading, sea transit, arrival, clearance, collection and final distribution
  • 5.5. Assessing risks, contingencies and compliance criteria: critical scenarios, mitigation and operational control of the flow
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Shipping and International Trade Course

It is 300 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.

4 h30 h
With 12 h per week
6
months to finish
25 weeks
weeks in total

This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.

Faculty

Academic leadership and faculty

The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.

Dra. Marina AlcoverDr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Ing. Diego CifuentesEng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerDr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dra. Nuria LlobregatDr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Ing. Javier BañulsEng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Ing. Sofía MarquinaEng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Ing. Tomás RieraEng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration Coordinator
Objectives

Objectives of the Shipping and International Trade Course

01Plan international maritime logistics by comparing routes and carriers on the basis of cost, transit time and risk.
02Interpret customs rules and trade documentation so that import and export operations run smoothly and in compliance.
03Apply Incoterms and contracts of carriage correctly, understanding how costs, risks and responsibilities pass between the parties.
04Identify and mitigate the risks of international trade, from route disruption and geopolitical tension to cargo incidents and delays.
05Analyze the dynamics of global maritime trade, its main corridors and chokepoints and the trends that affect them.
06Coordinate the different players in a shipment, from exporter and forwarder to shipping line, terminal and customs, to build reliable long-term relationships.
Careers

Career opportunities after the Shipping and International Trade Course

01Foreign trade specialistcustoms formalities, import and export documentation and analysis of international markets.
02International logistics specialistroute planning, multimodal transport management and negotiation with logistics providers.
03Import/export managerinternationalisation strategies, identification of business opportunities and management of trade risks.
04Freight forwarding and shipping agency staffbookings, documentation and coordination of maritime shipments.
05Customs and compliance officertariff classification, supporting documents and coordination with border authorities.
06International trade consultantadvice to companies on internationalisation and on optimizing their foreign trade operations.
Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Shipping and International Trade Course

To exchange goods and services between countries for mutual benefit, allowing each economy to access products, inputs and markets it would not otherwise reach.

Shipping is the means of transport that makes most international trade possible: the large majority of goods traded between countries travels by sea at some point in its journey.

No. The course starts from the essentials of commercial shipping, so it suits foreign trade and logistics professionals as well as people from the maritime and port sector who want to understand the commercial side.

Yes. The third module explains Incoterms and contracts of carriage and sale, and the fourth covers customs procedures, tariff classification, inspections and release of goods.

You design a complete maritime operation: product, markets, cargo type, ports, route, Incoterm, documents, insurance and the full logistics sequence, with an assessment of its risks and contingencies.

Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with live sessions that are recorded and tutorials with the teaching staff.

The course comprises 300 hours of study across 5 modules of about 60 hours each and ends with an applied project. You can progress at your own pace within the schedule set when you enroll.

Related programs

More programs in Cargo and logistics

View the whole area →

Short course · 300 hCargo Documentation Management Course$400 · View program →Short course · 300 hPort Inventory Control Course$470 · View program →Short course · 300 hFuel and Supplies Management Course$410 · View program →
Online admission

Admission process

No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.

Entry requirements
  • Profile: aimed at foreign trade professionals who want to optimize their use of maritime transport, business owners and entrepreneurs expanding into international markets, students and recent graduates in international trade, logistics and business administration, customs agents, freight forwarders and logistics operators, and maritime and port professionals who want to understand how international trade affects their operations; a background in international trade, business or economics, or experience in foreign trade or logistics, is helpful.
  • Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
  • Technical resources: a computer with camera, microphone, a stable internet connection and an up-to-date browser; familiarity with spreadsheets and with trade management software such as CRM or ERP systems is useful.
  • Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
  1. 01
    Application
    Your details, background and documents.
  2. 02
    Instant review
    We check that everything is complete and in order.
  3. 03
    Enrollment
    Choose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Start my applicationFrom $196 deposit

Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.

Any questions?

Ask us before you enroll

Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.

Enroll now

Consent
Scroll to Top