Master's in Maritime Territorial Dispute Resolution
This master's prepares you to analyze, negotiate and help resolve disputes between states over maritime boundaries, islands and marine resources. You will study the law of the sea, the cartography and geodesy of delimitation, the peaceful settlement mechanisms of the ICJ, ITLOS and arbitration, the geopolitics of disputed waters, mediation and naval diplomacy, the BBNJ Agreement, the effects of sea level rise on boundaries, the rights of coastal communities and the technologies used as evidence.
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What is the Master's in Maritime Territorial Dispute Resolution?
This master's prepares you to analyze, negotiate and help resolve disputes between states over maritime boundaries, islands and marine resources. You will learn to apply UNCLOS and international case law to the delimitation of territorial seas, EEZs and continental shelves, use geodesy, GIS and hydrography to build technical evidence, understand Part XV procedures, the ICJ three-step method and Annex VII arbitration, design joint development agreements and confidence-building measures, and lead mediation and negotiation processes, preparing you for roles in foreign ministries, international organizations, law firms, consultancies and research.
What sets this master's apart: it focuses on interstate territorial and boundary disputes, not on commercial maritime arbitration; it combines law with the technical side of delimitation, from datums and baselines to the cartographic annexes of treaties; it studies landmark cases such as the North Sea, the Black Sea, the Gulf of Maine, Peru v. Chile, Nicaragua v. Colombia and Bangladesh v. Myanmar; it addresses new questions such as sea level rise and the stability of boundaries; and it ends with a Final Project in which you design a comprehensive solution to a real maritime territorial dispute.
Program highlights
- Interstate disputes: maritime boundaries, sovereignty over islands and contested resources.
- Technical delimitation: geodesy, baselines, equidistance, GIS and cartographic evidence.
- Peaceful settlement: negotiation, mediation, the ICJ, ITLOS and Annex VII arbitration.
- Landmark case law: the North Sea, the Black Sea, Peru v. Chile, Nicaragua v. Colombia and more.
- New challenges: sea level rise, the BBNJ Agreement, the Arctic and joint development zones.
- Final Project: a comprehensive solution to a real maritime territorial dispute.
Syllabus of the Master's in Maritime Territorial Dispute Resolution
11 modules. Select a module to see its content.
International Law of the Sea and General Legal Framework
- 1.1. Historical development of the law of the sea: from Mare Liberum to UNCLOS
- 1.2. The 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
- 1.3. Zones under sovereignty: internal waters, territorial sea and contiguous zone
- 1.4. Sovereign rights: the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf
- 1.5. The high seas and the International Seabed Area
- 1.6. Special regimes: archipelagic states, international straits and enclosed or semi-enclosed seas
- 1.7. Principles of treaty interpretation applied to maritime disputes
- 1.8. Customary law and comparative case law of international courts
- 1.9. Sovereignty over islands, islets, rocks and low-tide elevations
- 1.10. Maritime delimitation and the law of treaties (Vienna Convention)
Cartography, Hydrography and Geodesy for Delimitation
- 2.1. Principles of marine geodesy: datums, reference ellipsoids and coordinate transformations
- 2.2. Cartographic and hydrographic techniques for normal and straight baselines
- 2.3. Geometric delimitation methods: equidistance, median lines and bisectors
- 2.4. Special and relevant circumstances: coastal configuration and proportionality
- 2.5. Delimiting the extended continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles (CLCS)
- 2.6. GIS and specialized software for boundary mapping
- 2.7. Hydrographic assessment of seabed resources and high-resolution bathymetry
- 2.8. The low-water line and geomorphological change from climate change and erosion
- 2.9. Technical and geodetic evidence before arbitral tribunals and the ICJ
- 2.10. Official maps, nautical charts and cartographic annexes to delimitation agreements
Peaceful Settlement Mechanisms for Maritime Disputes
- 3.1. Article 33 of the UN Charter and the obligation of peaceful settlement
- 3.2. Non-judicial mechanisms: negotiation, good offices, mediation and conciliation
- 3.3. Fact-finding in transboundary maritime disputes
- 3.4. UNCLOS Part XV: compulsory procedures entailing binding decisions
- 3.5. The International Court of Justice and its maritime boundary case law
- 3.6. The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea: structure, jurisdiction and provisional measures
- 3.7. Arbitration under UNCLOS Annex VII and ad hoc arbitration at the PCA
- 3.8. The ICJ three-step method for maritime delimitation
- 3.9. Implementation and compliance with judgments and arbitral awards
- 3.10. Landmark rulings: North Sea, English Channel, Black Sea, Peru v. Chile and Nicaragua v. Colombia
Geopolitics, Maritime Security and Strategic Resources
- 4.1. Geopolitical analysis of ocean spaces, chokepoints and sea lines of communication
- 4.2. Territorial disputes over offshore oil, natural gas and gas hydrates
- 4.3. Disputes over straddling and highly migratory fish stocks: RFMO governance
- 4.4. Deep-sea mining and competing claims in the Area
- 4.5. Naval presence, deterrence and military exercises in disputed zones
- 4.6. Joint development agreements (JDAs) as provisional solutions
- 4.7. Non-traditional maritime security: piracy, IUU fishing and organized crime
- 4.8. Militarization and construction on disputed features
- 4.9. Regional hotspots: the South China Sea, the Eastern Mediterranean, the Arctic and the Gulf of Guinea
- 4.10. De-escalation strategies and confidence-building measures at sea
Mediation, International Negotiation and Naval Diplomacy
- 5.1. Theory and practice of international negotiation over sovereignty and boundaries
- 5.2. Designing bilateral and multilateral negotiation processes for complex delimitation
- 5.3. Track II diplomacy and expert networks (epistemic communities)
- 5.4. Naval diplomacy, coast guards and emergency contact protocols at sea such as CUES
- 5.5. Managing incidents at sea between navies or fishing fleets
- 5.6. Risk communication and nationalist public opinion during territorial disputes
- 5.7. Drafting delimitation treaties, provisional arrangements and memoranda of understanding
- 5.8. The role of regional organizations (OAS, African Union, ASEAN, EU) in conflict prevention
- 5.9. Political psychology and leadership in resolving or prolonging sovereignty disputes
- 5.10. Simulated maritime boundary negotiations with technical and hydrographic advisers
The BBNJ Agreement, Conservation and Governance Beyond National Jurisdiction
- 6.1. The BBNJ Agreement and its implementation framework
- 6.2. High-seas marine protected areas and overlap with territorial claims
- 6.3. Marine genetic resources and fair and equitable benefit-sharing
- 6.4. Mandatory environmental impact assessments in undelimited and international waters
- 6.5. Capacity building and transfer of marine technology
- 6.6. Governance of polar ecosystems: the Antarctic Treaty System and the Arctic Council
- 6.7. Biodiversity protection and historic navigation rights
- 6.8. Satellite monitoring of protected areas in disputed waters
- 6.9. Multilateral funding for marine conservation in disputed areas
- 6.10. Coordination between the BBNJ Agreement, the International Seabed Authority and the IMO
Climate Change, Sea Level Rise and the Stability of Boundaries
- 7.1. Sea level rise and its legal effects on baselines and base points
- 7.2. The debate on fixing baselines and the permanence of established boundaries
- 7.3. Physical loss of islands, islets and atolls and the status of island states
- 7.4. The UN International Law Commission's work on sea level rise
- 7.5. Effects of coastal change on existing bilateral delimitation agreements
- 7.6. Shifting fish stocks due to ocean warming and new sources of conflict
- 7.7. New global shipping routes and Arctic sovereignty disputes
- 7.8. Coastal adaptation and resilience engineering against the loss of territory
- 7.9. Climate litigation before international courts and state responsibility
- 7.10. Legal foresight strategies for the long-term stability of maritime boundaries
Sovereignty, Identity and the Rights of Coastal and Indigenous Communities
- 8.1. Historic titles and historic fishing rights in international case law
- 8.2. Rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities over ancestral marine territories and resources
- 8.3. ILO Convention 169, UNDRIP and prior consultation in disputed maritime areas
- 8.4. Artisanal and subsistence fishing in border areas: transboundary access agreements
- 8.5. Community governance and co-management in areas of uncertain sovereignty
- 8.6. Protection of underwater cultural heritage (UNESCO 2001) and disputed historic wrecks
- 8.7. Marine anthropology and social research supporting historic sovereignty arguments
- 8.8. Socioeconomic impact of boundary settlement on border coastal populations
- 8.9. Transboundary community protocols to resolve small-scale fishing conflicts
- 8.10. Social equity and environmental justice in joint resource development agreements
Data Management, Cybersecurity and Emerging Technologies in Maritime Disputes
- 9.1. Acquiring and validating cartographic, geodetic and satellite data in contested areas
- 9.2. Cybersecurity of critical maritime infrastructure and subsea cables in disputed areas
- 9.3. Artificial intelligence and geodetic modeling to simulate delimitation scenarios
- 9.4. Autonomous vehicles (ROVs, AUVs and drones) for underwater documentary evidence
- 9.5. Open data platforms and FAIR principles applied to evidence in international litigation
- 9.6. Cyber diplomacy and protection of confidential information in arbitration and negotiation
- 9.7. Radar and optical satellite imagery to detect unlawful construction at sea
- 9.8. Digital chain of custody and forensic evidence for violations of maritime zones
- 9.9. Digital Twins of the Ocean to analyze impacts in delimited areas
- 9.10. AIS and vessel monitoring systems (VMS) in dispute resolution
Landmark Maritime Disputes and Case Law Analysis
- 10.1. The South China Sea
- 10.2. Delimitation in the Black Sea
- 10.3. The Gulf of Maine
- 10.4. Nicaragua v. Colombia
- 10.5. Bangladesh v. Myanmar
- 10.6. Arctic disputes
- 10.7. Gibraltar and adjacent waters
- 10.8. The Eastern Mediterranean
- 10.9. Analysis of ICJ and ITLOS judgments
- 10.10. Drafting a legal report
Final Project
- 11.1. Selecting a real dispute or pending delimitation and justifying the choice
- 11.2. Historical, political and legal analysis of the dispute between the states involved
- 11.3. Full cartographic, geodetic and hydrographic assessment of the disputed area
- 11.4. Diagnosis of the fisheries, energy and mineral resources and socioeconomic factors at stake
- 11.5. Proposed settlement strategy: judicial or arbitral route versus bilateral negotiation or a JDA
- 11.6. Drafting a formal delimitation proposal or a provisional joint development agreement
- 11.7. Cartographic and geodetic annex with baselines and proposed boundaries
- 11.8. Transboundary environmental management plan and participation of affected coastal communities
- 11.9. Political feasibility, compliance risks and dispute settlement mechanisms
- 11.10. Executive presentation and oral defense before a panel of experts in law and marine sciences
Duration and format of the Master's in Maritime Territorial Dispute Resolution
It is 1,500 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.
This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.
Academic leadership and faculty
The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.
Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Eng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
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 FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Eng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Eng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Eng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration CoordinatorObjectives of the Master's in Maritime Territorial Dispute Resolution
Career opportunities after the Master's in Maritime Territorial Dispute Resolution
Questions about the Master's in Maritime Territorial Dispute Resolution
Disputes over maritime boundaries, sovereignty over islands and other features, marine resources, navigation and other law of the sea questions, mainly between states but also their local and regional effects.
Commercial maritime arbitration deals with contracts, insurance and shipping disputes between private parties; this master's deals with territorial and boundary disputes between states under public international law.
No. The program explains the geodesy, hydrography and GIS needed to understand and discuss delimitation from the basics.
Landmark judgments and awards such as the North Sea, the English Channel, the Black Sea, the Gulf of Maine, Peru v. Chile, Nicaragua v. Colombia and Bangladesh v. Myanmar, as well as open situations such as the South China Sea, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Arctic.
Yes. The program includes simulated maritime boundary negotiations supported by technical and hydrographic advisers.
You choose a real dispute or pending delimitation and design a comprehensive solution, including legal and technical analysis, a draft agreement or delimitation proposal and a cartographic annex.
The master's is taught entirely online, with a virtual campus available 24/7, recorded live sessions and tutorials. It comprises 1500 hours of study across 11 modules of about 136 hours each, and you progress at your own pace within the schedule you are given on enrollment.
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Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.
- Profile: aimed at lawyers specializing in maritime and boundary law, diplomats and public officials involved in maritime boundary management and international dispute resolution, researchers analyzing the geopolitical and legal dimensions of maritime disputes, naval and coast guard officers responsible for national maritime zones, and maritime security and risk consultants. A degree in law, political science, international relations, geography, history or a related field, or proven professional experience in territorial management, diplomacy or conflict resolution, is recommended.
- 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 a camera for live sessions and project presentations.
- Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
- 01ApplicationYour details, background and documents.
- 02Instant reviewWe check that everything is complete and in order.
- 03EnrollmentChoose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.
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.