Master’s degree1,500 h · Online · 11 modules

Master's in International Maritime Trade and Transport

This master's gives you a global, specialized view of maritime trade, from the supply chain to international maritime law. You will learn to plan and optimize seaborne import and export operations, master Incoterms, shipping documents and customs compliance, understand freight markets, costs, marine insurance and claims, and handle the legal and financial issues that decide whether a cargo moves on time and on budget in a dynamic global market.

Duration1,500 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules11
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About the program

What is the Master's in International Maritime Trade and Transport?

This master's looks at maritime transport from the perspective of the cargo and the commercial operation behind it. You will study the players in international shipping, cargo types, liner and tramp services and the main maritime corridors; maritime contracts, Incoterms, bills of lading, sea waybills, charter parties and the documentary chain linked to letters of credit; port and terminal operations, productivity and intermodal connections; customs procedures, tariff classification, customs value, origin, AEO status and regulated goods; shipping economics, freight markets, surcharges, demurrage and detention and total landed cost; marine cargo, hull and P&I insurance, general average and claims handling; door-to-door logistics, container management, reefer and project cargo; digital trade documents, eBL, blockchain and tracking; ESG and decarbonization; and international maritime law, the Hague-Visby, Hamburg and Rotterdam Rules, ship arrest and maritime arbitration.

What sets this master's apart: it is centered on the international sale and shipment of goods by sea rather than on running ships or multimodal networks, so you learn to connect the commercial contract, the transport contract, the documents, customs, the freight cost, insurance and the legal remedies when something goes wrong; each module ends by building a practical tool, such as a documentary process, a customs compliance system, a cost model or a risk management program; and it closes with a Final Project in which you design and justify a complete maritime import or export operation from end to end.

Program typeMaster’s degree
ModeOnline
Duration1,500 hours
Modules11
Start1 December

Program highlights

  • The international shipping system: players, cargo types, liner and tramp services, corridors, chokepoints and port hubs.
  • Maritime contracts and documents: Incoterms, bills of lading, charter parties, letters of credit and documentary risk.
  • Customs and trade compliance: tariff classification, customs value, origin, AEO, regulated goods and single windows.
  • Shipping economics: freight markets, BAF, THC, demurrage and detention, total landed cost and rate negotiation.
  • Marine insurance, general average, cargo claims and risk management for special and high-value cargo.
  • International maritime law and dispute resolution, closing with a Final Project on a complete trade operation.
Syllabus

Syllabus of the Master's in International Maritime Trade and Transport

11 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

Foundations of international maritime transport, global trade and the structure of the maritime supply chain

  • 1.1. The concept of international maritime transport and how it differs from foreign trade, international logistics and commercial shipping
  • 1.2. The evolution of maritime transport as the backbone of global trade, supply chains and the international economy
  • 1.3. Key players: shipping lines, shippers, freight forwarders, ship agents, customs brokers, ports, terminals, insurers and maritime authorities
  • 1.4. Cargo types: containerized, liquid bulk, dry bulk, ro-ro, project, refrigerated, dangerous and oversized cargo
  • 1.5. The relationship between sea routes, ports, hinterland, contracts, costs, risks and transit times
  • 1.6. Differences between tramp shipping, liner shipping, cabotage, feeder, short sea shipping and interoceanic services
  • 1.7. Main maritime corridors, strategic canals, straits, port hubs and global connectivity networks
  • 1.8. Impact of geopolitics, port congestion, energy crises, pandemics and conflicts on maritime trade
  • 1.9. Current trends in digitalization, sustainability, decarbonization, port automation and logistics resilience
  • 1.10. A systems view of maritime transport integrating ships, ports, trade, regulation, finance and logistics
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 2

Maritime contracts, Incoterms, commercial documents and responsibilities in international operations

  • 2.1. Foundations of maritime contracting and the differences between the international sale, the contract of carriage, chartering and logistics services
  • 2.2. Incoterms in maritime trade and the allocation of costs, risks, delivery, insurance, clearance and responsibilities between buyer and seller
  • 2.3. Bill of lading, sea waybill, charter party, booking note, mate's receipt and other transport documents
  • 2.4. Commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary certificates, inspections and compliance documents
  • 2.5. Responsibilities of the shipper, carrier, consignee, freight forwarder, ship agent, terminal operator and receiver
  • 2.6. Managing bookings, shipping instructions, documentary and physical cut-offs, VGM and coordination with terminals
  • 2.7. Documentary risks: discrepancies, delays, abandoned cargo, consignment errors, holds and claims
  • 2.8. Letters of credit, documentary collections, guarantees, trade finance and the link between documents and international payment
  • 2.9. Resolving contractual incidents and liability for damage, loss, delay and force majeure
  • 2.10. Building robust documentary processes to reduce commercial, logistics and legal risks in maritime transport
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 3

Port management, terminals, cargo operations and intermodal connectivity

  • 3.1. Foundations of port management and the differences between port authority, terminal, logistics operator, shipping line and port community
  • 3.2. Terminal types: container, liquid bulk, dry bulk, ro-ro, multipurpose, cruise and project cargo
  • 3.3. Port operations: berthing, pilotage, towage, mooring, stowage, discharge, storage, inspection and clearance
  • 3.4. Port productivity, port stay times, berth productivity, dwell time, congestion, berth windows and operational coordination
  • 3.5. Port equipment: cranes, reach stackers, RTG, RMG, conveyors, pipelines, terminal tractors and automated systems
  • 3.6. Land connectivity: rail, road, barges, logistics centers, free zones and intermodal corridors
  • 3.7. Port community systems, single windows, document traceability and digitalization of port flows
  • 3.8. Port security, dangerous goods, inspections, customs control and coordination with authorities
  • 3.9. Port sustainability, electrification, shore power, emission reduction and energy efficiency in terminals
  • 3.10. Building port models that optimize capacity, safety, connectivity and logistics competitiveness
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 4

Customs, foreign trade, regulatory compliance and maritime border management

  • 4.1. Foundations of maritime customs and the relationship between import, export, transit, warehousing, free zones and re-export
  • 4.2. Tariff classification, customs value, origin of goods, tariff preferences and trade measures
  • 4.3. Customs declarations, manifests, ENS, ICS, clearance, release, inspections and document control
  • 4.4. Authorized Economic Operator status, customs compliance, traceability, audits and risk reduction in foreign trade
  • 4.5. Sanitary, phytosanitary and veterinary controls, product safety, dual-use goods and special restrictions
  • 4.6. Managing dangerous goods, waste, chemicals, food, medicines and regulated goods
  • 4.7. Risks of noncompliance: penalties, holds, extra costs, loss of goods, fraud and corporate liability
  • 4.8. Coordination between freight forwarders, customs brokers, shipping lines, terminals, shippers and border authorities
  • 4.9. Customs digitalization, single windows, advance information and operational traceability
  • 4.10. Building customs compliance systems that keep maritime trade fluid, lawful and under control
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 5

Shipping economics, freight, logistics costs and commercial models

  • 5.1. Economic foundations of shipping and the relationship between vessel supply, cargo demand, shipping cycles and freight volatility
  • 5.2. Maritime cost structure: freight, BAF, CAF, THC, demurrage, detention, storage, insurance, documentation and port charges
  • 5.3. Freight markets for containers, dry bulk, tankers, project cargo and specialized transport
  • 5.4. Contracting strategies: spot, long-term contracts, framework agreements and voyage, time and bareboat charters
  • 5.5. Shipping line revenue management: yield, utilization, blank sailings, alliances and capacity management
  • 5.6. Total logistics cost and comparison of routes, ports, modes, transit times and service levels
  • 5.7. Impact of fuel, environmental regulation, congestion, equipment shortages and container imbalances on costs
  • 5.8. Commercial indicators: cost per TEU, cost per ton, transit time, schedule reliability, lead time and service level
  • 5.9. Negotiating rates, surcharges, commercial terms and penalties and handling financial claims
  • 5.10. Building economic models to control costs, negotiate freight and improve international competitiveness
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 6

Marine insurance, risk management, claims and liability in international trade

  • 6.1. Foundations of maritime risk and the differences between commercial, logistics, legal, operational, political and environmental risk
  • 6.2. Cargo insurance, hull insurance, P&I, third-party liability, war and strikes cover and special coverage
  • 6.3. General average, salvage, abandonment, total loss, partial loss, concealed damage and claims management
  • 6.4. Claims for damage, loss, delay, contamination, poor stowage, temperature deviation, theft or mishandling
  • 6.5. Inspections, survey reports, sea protests, letters of reserve, photographic evidence and the documentary chain of a claim
  • 6.6. Carrier liability limits, time bars, clauses on the bill of lading and applicable jurisdiction
  • 6.7. Risk management for refrigerated, dangerous, oversized, fragile, perishable and high-value cargo
  • 6.8. Logistics continuity, contingencies, alternative routes, critical suppliers and resilience to maritime disruptions
  • 6.9. Loss prevention through packing, stowage, lashing, inspection, documentation and supplier selection
  • 6.10. Building risk management programs that protect cargo, contracts and the continuity of international trade
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 7

International logistics, maritime supply chain and door-to-door planning

  • 7.1. Foundations of international maritime logistics and the differences between port-to-port, door-to-door, multimodal and intermodal
  • 7.2. Planning import and export operations from origin to final destination
  • 7.3. Coordinating land transport, warehousing, consolidation, deconsolidation, clearance and final delivery
  • 7.4. Container management: types, availability, bookings, stuffing, stripping, seals, weight and damage control
  • 7.5. Cold chains, reefer logistics, temperature control, monitoring, alarms and deviation management
  • 7.6. Project cargo, break bulk, heavy lift and oversized cargo and the technical planning of special operations
  • 7.7. Managing logistics providers, freight forwarders, shipping lines, terminal operators, carriers and warehouses
  • 7.8. Logistics performance indicators: OTIF, lead time, dwell time, damage, total cost, reliability and visibility
  • 7.9. Integrating the maritime supply chain with purchasing, sales, production, inventory, finance and customer service
  • 7.10. Building efficient, traceable and resilient maritime supply chains in international markets
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 8

Digitalization, traceability, emerging technologies and the transformation of maritime trade

  • 8.1. Digitalization of maritime transport and the differences between document automation, logistics visibility and collaborative platforms
  • 8.2. eBL, electronic documents, smart contracts, blockchain, interoperability and less documentary friction
  • 8.3. Visibility platforms, container tracking, IoT, sensors, telemetry and real-time cargo monitoring
  • 8.4. Artificial intelligence for forecasting, route optimization, ETA prediction, risk management and logistics pricing
  • 8.5. Port automation, smart terminals, TOS, PCS and maritime single windows
  • 8.6. Cybersecurity in digital maritime supply chains, data protection, document fraud and technological resilience
  • 8.7. Data integration between shipping lines, ports, customs, forwarders, shippers, insurers and trade platforms
  • 8.8. Innovation in autonomous ships, green logistics, alternative fuels and new maritime service models
  • 8.9. Barriers to technology adoption: standards, interoperability, trust, cost, regulation and organizational maturity
  • 8.10. Building digital strategies that increase visibility, efficiency, security and competitiveness in maritime trade
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 9

Sustainability, decarbonization, ESG and responsible governance of international shipping

  • 9.1. Environmental impact of shipping: emissions, discharges, waste, underwater noise, invasive species and port pollution
  • 9.2. Maritime environmental regulation and measures on energy efficiency, carbon intensity and emission reduction
  • 9.3. Alternative fuels, port electrification, shore power, speed optimization and operational efficiency
  • 9.4. ESG in maritime supply chains: labor rights, safety, transparency, compliance, anti-corruption and supplier responsibility
  • 9.5. Green finance, sustainable taxonomy, green bonds, sustainability-linked loans and maritime investment criteria
  • 9.6. Measuring the carbon footprint by shipment, route, mode, port, supplier and full supply chain
  • 9.7. Impact reduction strategies: intermodality, short sea shipping, consolidation, energy efficiency and sustainable supplier selection
  • 9.8. Sustainability reporting, auditing, environmental certifications and preventing greenwashing in maritime trade
  • 9.9. The link between sustainability, commercial competitiveness, future regulation and access to international customers
  • 9.10. Building responsible maritime transport policies aligned with decarbonization, resilience and business value
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 10

International maritime law and dispute resolution in maritime trade

  • 10.1. Sources of international maritime law
  • 10.2. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
  • 10.3. The Hague-Visby, Hamburg and Rotterdam Rules
  • 10.4. Time and voyage charter parties
  • 10.5. Liability of the sea carrier
  • 10.6. Arrest of ships
  • 10.7. Maritime arbitration: LMAA, SMA and other forums
  • 10.8. Jurisdiction and applicable law in maritime disputes
  • 10.9. International sanctions and export controls
  • 10.10. Analysis of relevant case law
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 11

Final Project

  • 11.1. Defining the case study: an import or export operation, sea route, supply chain, special cargo or international trade strategy
  • 11.2. Diagnosing the product, origin, destination, players, constraints, documents, Incoterms, routes, ports and customs requirements
  • 11.3. Designing the maritime chain: choice of carrier, mode, port, land transport, storage and intermodal coordination
  • 11.4. Preparing the documentary, contractual, customs and regulatory compliance plan for the selected operation
  • 11.5. Building the economic model with freight, surcharges, insurance, port charges, land costs, risks and alternative scenarios
  • 11.6. Designing the insurance, risk management, claims, contingency and logistics continuity plan
  • 11.7. Integrating digital traceability, performance indicators, operational visibility and communication between players
  • 11.8. Assessing sustainability, carbon footprint, ESG criteria, logistics efficiency and environmental improvement opportunities
  • 11.9. Writing the comprehensive report with commercial, logistics, legal, customs, financial and environmental justification
  • 11.10. Presenting and defending the project with an overall validation of the proposed maritime trade and transport solution
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Master's in International Maritime Trade and Transport

It is 1,500 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
29
months to finish
125 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 Master's in International Maritime Trade and Transport

01Manage port logistics operations efficiently, planning people, equipment and space to keep cargo flowing and meet the response times required by customers and regulations.
02Assess and mitigate risks in the global maritime supply chain, preparing and auditing contingency plans for disruptions, cyberattacks and geopolitical events and diversifying suppliers and routes.
03Develop internationalization and commercial expansion strategies, analyzing target markets and adapting the value proposition and logistics to each region.
04Optimize the economic and financial management of maritime businesses, applying financing strategies and currency risk hedging suited to the sector.
05Lead multicultural teams in international maritime settings, using intercultural communication and adapting leadership to different work cultures.
06Apply international maritime law in practice, interpreting conventions such as SOLAS, MARPOL and STCW and port regulations and their legal implications for daily operations.
Careers

Career opportunities after the Master's in International Maritime Trade and Transport

01International trade operations manager coordinating shipments, customs documentation and end-to-end logistics
02Maritime market analyst researching freight trends, risks and opportunities in shipping
03Maritime logistics consultant optimizing supply chains and transport strategies
04Marine insurance and claims specialist
05Business development manager for shipping lines, freight forwarders and logistics operators
06Customs and trade compliance specialist or port operations coordinator
Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Master's in International Maritime Trade and Transport

Maritime transport. Land legs, warehousing and intermodal connections are covered where they form part of a door-to-door maritime operation.

The focus is on the cargo and the trade operation: contracts, Incoterms, documents, customs, freight costs, insurance, claims and maritime law, rather than on ship operations or fleet management.

No. Graduates in business, economics, law or engineering and professionals from foreign trade, forwarding or logistics can enroll. The admission interview confirms your fit.

No. You gain solid knowledge of customs procedures and compliance, but the license to act as a customs broker is granted by the competent authority in each country under its own requirements.

The program is online, with real case studies, business simulations and live sessions, adapted to working professionals and recent graduates.

Through practical cases, documentary and cost exercises, short module tests and the Final Project, in which you design a complete maritime trade operation.

A Navalis Institute master's certificate and a portfolio of practical tools, such as documentary processes, cost models and risk plans, together with your Final Project.

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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: degree in business administration, economics, law, engineering or a related field, or proven professional experience in international trade, transport or logistics; basic office software skills are required.
  • Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
  • Technical resources: computer with a stable internet connection, spreadsheet software and a headset with microphone for the live sessions.
  • Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
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  2. 02
    Instant review
    We check that everything is complete and in order.
  3. 03
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