Professional diploma800 h · Online · 8 modules
Professional Diploma in International Maritime Law
This professional diploma gives you a complete understanding of the legal framework governing the oceans and maritime activities. You will work with UNCLOS, the IMO conventions, flag state obligations and liability issues, with case studies showing how the rules apply in practice.
Duration800 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules8
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About the programme
What is the Professional Diploma in International Maritime Law?
This professional diploma gives you an overview of the legal framework that governs the oceans and maritime activities worldwide. It covers the key international conventions, bilateral treaties and case law, from the law of the sea to maritime trade and the regulation of shipping.
Its aim is to enable you to operate confidently in an increasingly complex and globalised maritime environment.
Programme typeProfessional diploma
ModeOnline
Duration800 hours
Modules8
Start1 December
Programme highlights
- Analysis of practical cases, with the study of international litigation and the resolution of maritime disputes.
- A comparative approach to maritime law across different jurisdictions.
- Continuous updating on trends and developments in maritime law.
Syllabus
Syllabus of the Professional Diploma in International Maritime Law
8 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Module 1
Fundamentals of International Maritime Law and the Law of the Sea
- 1.1. Introduction and evolution: history of maritime law, sources of law and legal nature of maritime space
- 1.2. UNCLOS: maritime zones, internal waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone (EEZ)
- 1.3. Continental shelf and high seas: legal regime, freedoms of the high seas and the International Seabed Area
- 1.4. International organisations: role and competences of the IMO, the International Seabed Authority and ITLOS
- 1.5. Jurisdiction and sovereignty: rights of innocent passage, transit passage and flag State jurisdiction
- 1.6. Flags and ship registration: flags of convenience, open registers, national flag and the genuine link principle
- 1.7. Port State control (PSC) powers: memoranda of understanding (Paris and Viña del Mar MoUs) and inspection powers
- 1.8. Sources of international maritime law
At this stage
100 hestimated workload8 wkweeks at your paceModule 2
Legal Status of the Ship, Maritime Parties and Contracts of Employment of Ships
- 2.1. The ship as an object of law: legal nature, identification, ownership, ship mortgage and maritime liens
- 2.2. Parties in maritime trade: owner, operator, registered owner, ship's agent and the yacht broker
- 2.3. Master and crew: legal status of the master, public/private powers and employment regime under the MLC 2006
- 2.4. Ship lease contracts: bareboat charter and responsibilities of the parties
- 2.5. Time charter contracts: standard clauses, allocation of expenses, off-hire and payment of hire
- 2.6. Voyage charter contracts: analysis of laytime, demurrage and despatch
- 2.7. Passenger contracts and nautical tourism: legal regulation of passenger transport on cruise ships and recreational craft
- 2.8. Ship registration and flags of convenience
At this stage
100 hestimated workload8 wkweeks at your paceModule 3
Legal Regime of the Carriage of Goods by Sea and Documentation
- 3.1. The bill of lading (B/L): functions, types of B/L, issuance, transfer and evidential value
- 3.2. Hague-Visby Rules: scope of application, carrier's obligations, exemptions from liability and limits of compensation
- 3.3. Hamburg Rules and Rotterdam Rules: comparative analysis, scope of liability and digitalisation of transport
- 3.4. Incoterms applied to maritime trade: detailed analysis of sea terms (FAS, FOB, CFR, CIF) and transfer of risk
- 3.5. Multimodal transport and containerisation: combined transport contracts, liability regime and port terminals
- 3.6. Electronic maritime documentation: digital signatures, electronic bills of lading and blockchain technology in the supply chain
- 3.7. Cargo damage claims: sea protest procedure, surveys, time bars and notification
- 3.8. Hague-Visby, Hamburg and Rotterdam Rules
At this stage
100 hestimated workload8 wkweeks at your paceModule 4
Marine Casualties, Average and Maritime Liability
- 4.1. Collisions at sea: regulation under the 1972 Collision Regulations, determination of fault, damage and liability
- 4.2. Maritime assistance and salvage: 1989 International Salvage Convention, LOF (Lloyd’s Open Form) contract and salvage award
- 4.3. General average: concept, requirements, application of the York-Antwerp Rules and average adjustment
- 4.4. Wreck removal: 2007 Nairobi Convention, shipowner's obligations and powers of coastal authorities
- 4.5. Limitation of liability for maritime claims: LLMC Convention 1976/96, constitution of the limitation fund and excluded claims
- 4.6. Marine casualty investigation: IMO Casualty Investigation Code and technical-legal procedures
- 4.7. Search and rescue (SAR): 1979 SAR Convention, obligations to assist persons in distress at sea and international coordination
- 4.8. Salvage and towage
At this stage
100 hestimated workload8 wkweeks at your paceModule 5
Environmental Maritime Law and Ocean Sustainability
- 5.1. MARPOL 73/78 Convention: comprehensive analysis of Annexes I to VI on the prevention of operational and accidental pollution
- 5.2. Civil liability for oil pollution: CLC and Fund Conventions (IOPC Funds), compensation and limits
- 5.3. Pollution by hazardous and noxious substances and bunker oil: HNS Convention and Bunker Oil Convention (Bunkers 2001)
- 5.4. Ballast water management: BWM Convention 2004, D-1/D-2 standards and prevention of the introduction of invasive species
- 5.5. Ship breaking and recycling: Hong Kong Convention, inventory of hazardous materials (IHM) and European regulations
- 5.6. Protection of particularly sensitive sea areas (PSSAs): navigation restrictions and environmental control measures
- 5.7. Decarbonisation and emissions trading: legal regime of the maritime EU ETS, carbon intensity regulation (CII) and IMO metrics
- 5.8. CLC Conventions and pollution liability
At this stage
100 hestimated workload8 wkweeks at your paceModule 6
Marine Insurance and Protection and Indemnity (P&I) Clubs
- 6.1. Fundamentals of marine insurance: principle of utmost good faith (uberrimae fidei), insurable interest and proximate cause
- 6.2. Hull and Machinery (H&M) insurance policies: standard cover (Institute Time Clauses - Hulls), risks covered and exclusions
- 6.3. Cargo insurance: Institute Cargo Clauses (ICC A, B and C) and war/strikes risk cover
- 6.4. Protection & Indemnity Clubs (P&I Clubs): mutual structure, cover for liabilities towards third parties, crew and the environment
- 6.5. Insurance claims handling: processing of claims, abandonment of the ship, actual total loss and constructive total loss
- 6.6. Implied and express warranties: seaworthiness of the ship, legality of the voyage and consequences of breach
- 6.7. Marine reinsurance: structure of the reinsurance market, excess of loss contracts and international distribution of risk
- 6.8. Cargo insurance
At this stage
100 hestimated workload8 wkweeks at your paceModule 7
Port Law, Maritime Security and Piracy
- 7.1. Legal regime of ports: port concessions, pilotage, harbour towage and mooring services
- 7.2. ISPS Code: security of ships and port facilities, security levels and approved security plans
- 7.3. Piracy and armed robbery at sea: legal framework of UNCLOS, SUA Convention and industry protection measures (BMP)
- 7.4. Use of privately contracted armed security personnel on board (PCASP): legal regulation, rules for the use of force and carriage of weapons in international waters
- 7.5. Arrest of ships: 1952 and 1999 Arrest Conventions, judicial procedure and release against security
- 7.6. Competition law in the maritime sector: regulation of liner shipping consortia and alliances and anti-trust control
- 7.7. Maritime cybersecurity: on-board cyber risk management according to IMO guidelines and legal liability for cyberattacks
- 7.8. Arrest of ships
At this stage
100 hestimated workload8 wkweeks at your paceModule 8
Capstone Project: Jurisdiction, Maritime Arbitration and International Litigation
- 8.1. Competent jurisdiction and conflict of laws: determining the competent forum and applicable law in international maritime contracts
- 8.2. International maritime arbitration: operation of specialised arbitral tribunals (LMAA, SMA, CIMA) and arbitration clauses
- 8.3. Enforcement of arbitral awards and foreign judgments: application of the 1958 New York Convention in maritime matters
- 8.4. Simulated collision or average case: comprehensive analysis of liabilities, surveys, quantification of damages and litigation strategy
- 8.5. Drafting of contracts and complex clauses: jurisdiction, force majeure, international sanctions and war risks clauses
- 8.6. Assessment of legal contingencies: technical-legal opinion on a complex casualty affecting cargo, ship and the environment
- 8.7. Presentation of the case study
- 8.8. Final presentation: defence of an international maritime legal opinion before a panel of arbitrators and expert lawyers from the sector
At this stage
100 hestimated workload8 wkweeks at your pacePlan your pace
Duration and format of the Professional Diploma in International Maritime Law
It is 800 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
15
months to finish
67 weeks
weeks in total
This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the instalment plan.
Faculty
Academic leadership and faculty
The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programmes.
Dra. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Ing. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dra. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Ing. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Ing. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Ing. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration CoordinatorObjectives
Objectives of the Professional Diploma in International Maritime Law
01Assess marine insurance policies, their cover and exclusions.
02Interpret and apply international maritime conventions, such as SOLAS, on safety matters.
03Manage international maritime litigation and arbitration, including documentation and evidence.
04Master marine pollution regulations, in particular MARPOL.
05Identify the competent jurisdiction and forum in contractual disputes, cargo claims and casualties.
06Assess ship financing models and negotiate favourable contract terms.
Careers
Career opportunities after the Professional Diploma in International Maritime Law
Frequently asked questions
Questions about the Professional Diploma in International Maritime Law
International Maritime Law
Yes. The pathway includes ECDIS/Radar-ARPA/BRM with port, ocean, fog, heavy-weather and SAR scenarios.
Online with live sessions; hybrid option for simulator/work placement stays through partnership agreements.
International Maritime Law
Functional SMCP is recommended. We provide support materials for standard phraseology.
Yes, with a related qualification or experience in maritime/port operations. The admission interview will confirm your suitability.
Optional (3–6 months) through Companies & Partnerships and the Alumni Network.
Simulator exercises (rubrics), passage plans, SOPs, checklists, micro-tests and an applied master's thesis.
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Online admission
Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enrol in the same session.
Entry requirements
- Profile: aimed at students, technicians and professionals in the naval, maritime, port and logistics fields. Specific requirements may vary by programme.
- Language: sufficient command of the language of instruction; some supplementary resources are in English.
- Documentation: valid identity document and complete personal details. Depending on the level, additional academic or professional documentation may be requested.
- Technical requirements for online study: stable internet connection, up-to-date browser, PDF reader and basic office tools.
- 01ApplicationYour details, background and documents.
- 02Instant reviewWe check that everything is complete and in order.
- 03EnrolmentChoose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Start my applicationFrom ₱27,800 deposit
Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.
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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.