Short course300 h · Online · 5 modules

Boat Contracts and Insurance Course

Protect the future of your vessel with this course on boat contracts and insurance. You will master the key legal and financial aspects of owning and operating a boat: how to interpret and negotiate sale, charter, lease and repair contracts to protect your interests, how the different types of marine insurance work, what they cover and exclude, and how to choose the policy that best suits your needs, so that you avoid unnecessary risks and make informed decisions about your investment.

Duration300 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules5
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About the program

What is the Boat Contracts and Insurance Course?

This short course prepares you to structure, read and negotiate the contracts and insurance policies that surround a vessel. You will study the legal foundations of contracting in the nautical sector, the legal and operational classification of vessels and the parties involved, from owner, operator and skipper to charterer, insurer, broker and injured third party; sale, lease, charter and use agreements, with due diligence, warranties, hidden defects and critical clauses on jurisdiction, applicable law and limitation of liability; boat insurance, including hull and machinery, liability, P&I, towing and assistance cover, exclusions, deductibles and the factors insurers use to underwrite risk; and the handling of claims, damage, total loss, third-party liability and contractual and non-contractual disputes.

What sets this course apart: analysis of real situations and common mistakes in contracting and insuring vessels; useful templates and guides for managing contracts and comparing policies; comprehensive coverage, from civil liability to damage to the vessel itself; regular review of the latest rules on marine contracts and insurance; and an integrative project in which you build the contract structure and insurance program for a vessel or nautical activity and rehearse the handling of a claim.

Program typeShort course
ModeOnline
Duration300 hours
Modules5
Start1 December

Program highlights

  • Legal foundations: contract law applied to vessels, types of craft and the parties involved.
  • Sale and charter: due diligence, transfer of title, lease, charter, warranties and hidden defects.
  • Critical clauses: jurisdiction, applicable law, limitation of liability, termination and penalties.
  • Boat insurance: hull and machinery, liability, P&I, exclusions, deductibles and underwriting.
  • Claims management: notification, evidence, surveys, valuation of damage and legal defense.
  • Integrative project: contract structure and insurance program for a real or realistic vessel.
Syllabus

Syllabus of the Boat Contracts and Insurance Course

5 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

Legal foundations of nautical contracting, types of vessel and the general framework of insurable risks in maritime activity

  • 1.1. Essential concepts of contract law applied to vessels: parties, object, consent, cause and binding force of the contract
  • 1.2. Legal and operational classification of vessels: leisure, commercial, fishing, sports, work and special units
  • 1.3. Parties involved in nautical contracting: owner, shipowner, operator, skipper, charterer, insurer, broker and injured third party
  • 1.4. The main legal and financial risks of operating vessels: own damage, civil liability, breakdowns, casualties and litigation
  • 1.5. The relationship between the main contract, annexes, special conditions and the vessel's technical documentation
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 2

Sale, lease, charter and use agreements for vessels, focusing on obligations, warranties and liabilities

  • 2.1. The boat sale contract: essential elements, documentary due diligence, warranty against defects and transfer of title
  • 2.2. Lease and assignment-of-use agreements: duration, maintenance obligations, damage regime and return of the vessel
  • 2.3. Charter, nautical rental and commercial operation contracts: types, allocation of risks and operational liabilities
  • 2.4. Contractual warranties, hidden defects, lack of conformity and claim mechanisms in nautical transactions
  • 2.5. Critical clauses in boat contracts: jurisdiction, applicable law, limitation of liability, termination and penalties
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 3

Boat insurance: cover, exclusions, risk underwriting and the design of insurance programs for nautical and maritime activity

  • 3.1. The main types of boat insurance: hull and machinery, civil liability, personal accident, P&I, towing and assistance
  • 3.2. Basic and extended cover: own damage, total loss, particular average, theft, fire, grounding, collision and salvage
  • 3.3. Exclusions, limits, deductibles and sub-limits: technical reading of policies and assessment of their real scope
  • 3.4. Risk underwriting factors: navigation area, insured value, use of the vessel, skipper's experience and claims history
  • 3.5. Declaration of risk, aggravation, non-disclosure and the policyholder's duties towards the insurer
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 4

Claims handling, damage, average and liability arising from the operation of vessels in a contractual and insurance context

  • 4.1. Notification of a casualty: deadlines, minimum content, evidence and coordination with the insurer or broker
  • 4.2. Claim documentation: reports, photographs, technical reports, witness statements, surveys and navigation records
  • 4.3. Civil liability for damage to third parties, passengers, crew, port facilities and other vessels
  • 4.4. Damage, partial loss, total loss and indemnity criteria: valuation, depreciation, repair and disputes between surveyors
  • 4.5. Contractual and non-contractual claims: breach, negligence, shared fault and legal defense
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 5

Integrative project: contract structure and insurance program for a vessel or nautical activity, with risk assessment and technical defense

  • 5.1. Definition of the case: type of vessel, intended use, operating profile, risk exposure and parties involved
  • 5.2. Drafting of the base contract structure: sale, lease or operation, with essential clauses and technical annexes
  • 5.3. Identification and assessment of the legal, operational and financial risks of the chosen vessel or activity
  • 5.4. Design of the insurance program: cover, limits, exclusions, deductibles and policy selection criteria
  • 5.5. Simulation of a casualty and claim-handling strategy: notification, documentation, defense and resolution
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Boat Contracts and Insurance 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 Boat Contracts and Insurance Course

01Manage risk and insurance cover for marine casualties, assessing policies, analyzing claims and working with surveyors to settle losses while minimizing them and making the most of the cover.
02Interpret and apply maritime law in contracts and insurance, identifying the relevant clauses in charter parties and marine policies and their effect on liability and cover after a casualty.
03Understand the structure and clauses of marine insurance policies, identifying covered risks, exclusions and the insured's obligations under the Institute Cargo and Time Clauses and war risk clauses.
04Negotiate and finalize sale, charter and insurance contracts for vessels, drafting clear and enforceable clauses that balance the parties' interests and reduce legal and financial risk.
05Advise on the best cover and contracting options for each type of vessel and activity, weighing weather, navigation area and cargo and proposing tailored liability, hull and P&I policies.
06Review the legal documentation needed to register and flag a vessel, checking compliance with national and international rules and coordinating with maritime authorities and ship registries.
Careers

Career opportunities after the Boat Contracts and Insurance Course

01Marine insurance agentspecializing in cover for the risks of vessels, including damage, civil liability and theft.
02Boat insurance underwriterassessing risks and setting premiums for vessel insurance policies.
03Marine insurance surveyorinvestigating and valuing damage to vessels to determine insurance cover.
04Maritime risk manageridentifying and mitigating the risks of owning and operating vessels.
05Boat contracts consultantcontractual advice on the sale, charter and financing of vessels.
06Boat insurance policy administratormanaging and following up policies, including renewals and claims.
Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Boat Contracts and Insurance Course

To protect the owner financially against loss of or damage to the vessel, damage to other vessels or injury to people caused by accidents, theft, natural events and other contingencies covered by the policy.

A sale contract transfers ownership of the vessel, whereas an insurance policy protects the owner against loss, damage and liability during ownership and use.

Protection and indemnity cover protects the owner or operator against third-party liabilities such as injury, pollution or damage to port facilities. The insurance module explains it alongside hull and machinery, liability, towing and assistance cover.

Yes. It covers leisure craft as well as commercial, fishing and work vessels, and the sale, charter and insurance topics apply directly to private owners and buyers.

No. A background in law, business or insurance helps, but the course starts from the essential concepts of contract law, and the admission interview will confirm that it fits your profile.

You choose a vessel or nautical activity, draft its basic contract structure, assess its risks, design an insurance program and plan how you would handle a simulated claim.

Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with practical cases based on real examples, 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 integrative project. You can progress at your own pace within the schedule set when you enroll.

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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 boat owners and prospective buyers, nautical professionals such as brokers, shipyards and marinas, lawyers and legal advisers who want to specialize in maritime law and boat insurance, and fleet managers; a background in law, business administration or insurance, or professional experience in marine insurance or boat contract management, is helpful but not essential.
  • Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
  • Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and software to view PDF documents.
  • 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 $156 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.

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