Master's in Seaborne Exports and International Markets
This master's prepares you to lead the international expansion of a company through maritime trade. You will learn to analyze and select foreign markets, design export strategies, negotiate freight and manage containerized logistics, handle customs, documentation and tariffs, choose payment methods and trade finance, insure cargo against maritime risks and negotiate across cultures, so that you can plan and run export operations by sea from the first quotation to delivery at destination.
Prior knowledge check
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What is the Master's in Seaborne Exports and International Markets?
This master's combines the commercial and the operational sides of exporting by sea. You will study world maritime trade flows, chokepoints and geopolitics, trade agreements and nearshoring trends; maritime law and contracts, from the Hague-Visby, Hamburg and Rotterdam Rules to charterparties, bills of lading, Incoterms 2020, general average and arbitration; port and container terminal operations, LCL and FCL, VGM, reefer cargo and the IMDG Code; freight rates, surcharges, service contracts, freight indices and door-to-door costs; customs clearance, tariff classification, origin, special regimes and the AEO; letters of credit, documentary collections, guarantees, export credit insurance and forfaiting; marine cargo insurance and claims; market selection, export pricing and intercultural negotiation; and green, digital supply chains.
What sets this master's apart: it is written from the exporter's point of view, so every topic, from freight negotiation to letters of credit, is connected to winning and delivering international sales; it gives the same weight to law, logistics, customs, finance and insurance, the areas where export operations usually fail; it uses real market references such as the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index and the Baltic Dry Index; and it ends with an internationalization plan module and a Final Project in which you build a complete maritime export plan for a real product, from market choice and Incoterm to customs, financing, insurance and ROI.
Program highlights
- Global maritime trade: routes, chokepoints, trade agreements, WTO, UNCTAD, IMO and ICC.
- Law and contracts: Hague-Visby and Rotterdam Rules, bills of lading, Incoterms 2020, general average.
- Ports and containers: terminals, LCL and FCL, VGM, reefer logistics, IMDG and demurrage.
- Freight and costs: surcharges, service contracts, spot market, freight indices and 3PL selection.
- Customs and finance: tariff classification, origin, AEO, letters of credit, guarantees and forfaiting.
- Markets and negotiation: market selection, export pricing, distributors and intercultural negotiation.
Syllabus of the Master's in Seaborne Exports and International Markets
11 modules. Select a module to see its content.
The international maritime trade environment and global geopolitics
- 1.1. Analysis of world maritime trade: cargo flows, global routes and strategic nodes
- 1.2. Geopolitics of the seas: key straits, interoceanic passages and vulnerabilities in the network
- 1.3. International organizations: WTO, UNCTAD, IMO and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
- 1.4. Free trade agreements, regional agreements and maritime tariff preferences
- 1.5. Macroeconomic indicators and analysis of current conditions in freight transport
- 1.6. International customs regimes and non-tariff barriers in destination ports
- 1.7. Common commercial policy and cross-border export and import rules
- 1.8. Industrial relocation trends: nearshoring, friendshoring and reshoring
- 1.9. Strategies for entering emerging markets and consolidating in mature markets
- 1.10. International trade intelligence dashboards and market prospecting
International maritime law, contracts and transport regimes
- 2.1. International legal framework for carriage by sea: the Hague-Visby, Hamburg and Rotterdam Rules
- 2.2. Contracts of carriage by sea under charterparties and bills of lading
- 2.3. Types, issue and transfer of the bill of lading (B/L): master, house, switch and electronic B/L
- 2.4. International contracts for the sale of goods and penalty clauses
- 2.5. Practical application of the International Commercial Terms (Incoterms 2020) in maritime trade
- 2.6. Liability of the sea carrier, legal limitations and exemptions
- 2.7. General average: rules, declaration and adjustment procedure
- 2.8. International maritime arbitration, specialized courts and dispute resolution
- 2.9. Compliance, international sanctions and trade embargoes
- 2.10. Arrest of ships and claims for damage to or delay of cargo
Port operations, terminals and container logistics
- 3.1. Structure and types of commercial ports: hubs, feeder ports and specialized terminals
- 3.2. Container terminal operations: ship-to-shore (STS) gantry cranes, yards and landside flows
- 3.3. Maritime transport equipment: container types (dry, reefer, flat rack, open top and tank)
- 3.4. Cargo consolidation: LCL (less than container load) versus FCL (full container load) operations
- 3.5. Cargo planning, stowage, lashing and verified gross mass (VGM) under SOLAS
- 3.6. Managing demurrage, detention and storage charges
- 3.7. Cold chain logistics: the refrigerated maritime supply chain and controlled atmosphere
- 3.8. Dangerous goods operations on board: the IMDG Code and segregation at the terminal
- 3.9. Cargo inspection, international marine surveys and loss control
- 3.10. Port digitalization: port community systems (PCS) and the single window
Freight management, logistics costs and contracting with carriers
- 4.1. Rate structure in maritime transport: basic freight, surcharges (BAF, CAF, THC, ISPS) and net rates
- 4.2. Freight negotiation strategies with shipping lines and freight forwarders
- 4.3. Long-term service contracts versus the spot market
- 4.4. Global freight indices (Shanghai Containerized Freight Index, Baltic Dry Index) and volatility
- 4.5. Door-to-door cost structure in exports and imports
- 4.6. Hedging freight price risk with forward freight agreements (FFAs)
- 4.7. Selection, approval and auditing of international logistics providers (3PL and 4PL)
- 4.8. Optimizing container fill and packaging costs for maritime transit
- 4.9. Analysis of hidden costs: customs inspections, positioning and empty container repositioning
- 4.10. Logistics cost simulation models for international commercial quotations
Customs management, foreign trade taxation and documentation
- 5.1. Export and import customs clearance at maritime terminals
- 5.2. Tariff classification of goods: the Harmonized System and TARIC codes
- 5.3. Customs valuation of goods imported by sea
- 5.4. Certificates of origin (EUR.1, Form A and non-preferential certificates of origin) and licenses
- 5.5. Sanitary, phytosanitary and quality requirements at the border, including veterinary controls and CITES
- 5.6. International taxation: import VAT, export exemptions and special duties
- 5.7. Special customs procedures: customs warehouses, free zones and inward and outward processing
- 5.8. The Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) and its advantages in the supply chain
- 5.9. Key documents: commercial invoice, packing list, EUR.1 and weight and analysis certificates
- 5.10. Electronic customs systems, EDI and management of physical inspection procedures
International finance, payment methods and financial risk management
- 6.1. Evaluating and selecting international payment methods in maritime operations
- 6.2. Documentary credits: the ICC UCP 600 rules and confirmed, irrevocable letters of credit
- 6.3. Documentary collections (URC 522 rules) and international bank transfers
- 6.4. International bank guarantees, customs bonds and standby letters of credit
- 6.5. Hedging currency risk in international forward contracts
- 6.6. Export credit insurance: policies from credit insurers and management of late payment
- 6.7. Export finance: pre-shipment and post-shipment finance and forfaiting
- 6.8. International factoring and supply chain finance solutions
- 6.9. Analysis of the foreign buyer's creditworthiness and country risk assessment
- 6.10. International treasury management and cash flows in exporting companies
Marine insurance, transport and cargo risk management
- 7.1. Fundamental principles of marine insurance: insurable interest and utmost good faith
- 7.2. Cover under the Institute Cargo Clauses (A, B and C)
- 7.3. Types of marine insurance policies: open, voyage, floating and global policies
- 7.4. Insurable value, sum insured and premium calculation for maritime transport
- 7.5. Cover for special risks: strikes, war, collision, piracy and customs rejection
- 7.6. Handling marine claims: notification, statements, surveys and settlement
- 7.7. Protection and Indemnity Clubs (P&I Clubs): role, cover and reinsurance
- 7.8. Managing claims against shipping carriers and preserving rights of recovery
- 7.9. Protocols to prevent damage to cargo during ocean transit
- 7.10. Assessing environmental and infrastructure risk in destination ports
Market selection strategy, marketing and international negotiation
- 8.1. Methodology for selecting priority markets for exports by sea
- 8.2. Adapting the product, packaging and labeling to international regulations
- 8.3. Distribution channels at destination: sales agents, distributors, subsidiaries and joint ventures
- 8.4. Export pricing strategies: contribution margin and market prices
- 8.5. Intercultural negotiation: negotiating styles in Asia, the Americas, the Middle East and Europe
- 8.6. International B2B marketing, presence at shipping trade fairs and inward trade missions
- 8.7. Cross-border e-commerce supported by maritime transport
- 8.8. International industrial and intellectual property: registering trademarks and patents at destination
- 8.9. Communication and brand positioning plans in foreign markets
- 8.10. Contracting international commercial agents and distributors
Sustainability, the green supply chain and technology at sea
- 9.1. Decarbonization of maritime transport: IMO regulation (CII, EEXI) and the 2030 and 2050 targets
- 9.2. Energy transition on ships: alternative fuels (methanol, LNG, ammonia and hydrogen)
- 9.3. Carbon footprint in the maritime logistics chain: measurement, reporting and offsetting
- 9.4. Green logistics strategies and optimization of ocean routes
- 9.5. Blockchain applied to cargo traceability and digital bills of lading
- 9.6. Artificial intelligence and big data for forecasting freight rates and transit times
- 9.7. Real-time visibility of maritime cargo through IoT sensors and satellite tracking
- 9.8. Circular economy, waste management on board and container recycling
- 9.9. ESG (environmental, social and governance) criteria in the selection of maritime suppliers
- 9.10. Automation of export logistics processes and ERP-TMS integration
Internationalization plan and execution of export operations
- 10.1. Diagnosis of export capacity
- 10.2. Analysis of target markets
- 10.3. Modes of entry into foreign markets
- 10.4. Agents, distributors and subsidiaries
- 10.5. Setting export prices
- 10.6. Incoterms applied to strategy
- 10.7. Public support programs for internationalization
- 10.8. Trade fairs and trade missions
- 10.9. International industrial property
- 10.10. Internationalization plan
Final Project
- 11.1. Selecting the product or service and analyzing the company's export capacity
- 11.2. International market research and well-founded selection of the destination country
- 11.3. Designing the entry strategy and selecting the maritime distribution channel
- 11.4. Defining the maritime supply chain: choice of port of origin, base port and itinerary
- 11.5. Choosing the Incoterm 2020, export price structure and freight quotation
- 11.6. Customs management plan, tariff classification and regulatory compliance at destination
- 11.7. Financing plan, choice of payment method, risk management and insurance policy
- 11.8. Port operations plan, container type, consolidation and prevention of delays
- 11.9. Financial evaluation of the project: profit and loss account, ROI and sensitivity analysis
- 11.10. Writing the maritime export plan, preparing the executive document and oral defense
Duration and format of the Master's in Seaborne Exports and International Markets
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 Seaborne Exports and International Markets
Career opportunities after the Master's in Seaborne Exports and International Markets
Questions about the Master's in Seaborne Exports and International Markets
Maritime transport of goods in international trade, including the port, customs, financial and insurance operations that go with it.
Both. It combines market selection, pricing, marketing and negotiation with freight, containers, customs, payment methods and cargo insurance, always from the exporter's point of view.
Yes. You study Incoterms 2020 in the maritime context, the types, issue and transfer of bills of lading, charterparties, carrier liability and general average.
Yes. One module covers documentary credits under UCP 600, documentary collections, bank guarantees, export credit insurance, forfaiting, factoring and currency risk.
It is not essential. A degree in business, economics or engineering is a good starting point; the admission interview confirms that the program suits your profile.
No. Navalis teaches customs procedures and regulations; any license to act as a customs broker is granted by the competent authority in each country.
Through case studies and practical exercises in each module and a Final Project in which you build a complete maritime export plan for a real product, defended orally.
A master's issued by Navalis Institute, together with the export plan, cost models and analyses you develop during the program.
Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7 with live and recorded classes, discussion forums and personalized tutoring. It comprises 1500 hours across 11 modules of about 136 hours each.
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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 international trade professionals who want to specialize in maritime and customs operations, graduates in business administration, economics or engineering, logistics and transport managers, export and area managers, and internationally minded entrepreneurs and startups. A degree in business administration, economics, international trade or a related field, or demonstrable professional experience in foreign trade, logistics or international marketing, is recommended; basic knowledge of Incoterms, export documentation and customs law is an advantage.
- 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 office software for spreadsheets and documents.
- 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.