Professional diploma800 h · Online · 8 modules

Professional Diploma in Maritime Contracts and Marine Insurance

This professional diploma takes you inside the contracts and insurance that keep commercial shipping moving. You will learn how voyage, time and bareboat charter parties allocate risk, how bills of lading work as receipt, document of title and evidence of contract, and how marine insurance protects ships, cargo and liabilities through hull and machinery cover, Institute Cargo Clauses and P&I clubs, finishing with the handling of casualties, salvage and general average.

Duration800 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules8
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About the program

What is the Professional Diploma in Maritime Contracts and Marine Insurance?

This professional diploma trains you to read, negotiate and manage the documents on which every commercial voyage depends. You will study the sources of maritime law, ship registration, mortgages and arrest, limitation of liability, arbitration under LMAA and SMA terms, the Hague-Visby, Hamburg and Rotterdam Rules, standard charter forms such as GENCON, NYPE, BALTIME and BARECON, laytime and demurrage, safe ports and war, ice and piracy clauses, bills of lading, letters of indemnity and electronic B/Ls, the Marine Insurance Act 1906 and the Insurance Act 2015, Institute Time Clauses (Hulls), war risks, total loss, Institute Cargo Clauses and Incoterms 2020, P&I and FD&D cover, general average under the York-Antwerp Rules and salvage under Lloyd's Open Form.

What sets this professional diploma apart: it is the one program at Navalis that follows a commercial voyage from the fixture to the final claim, linking the charter party and the bill of lading to the insurance policies that respond when something goes wrong; it works clause by clause with the standard forms the market actually uses; it gives equal weight to hull, cargo and P&I insurance instead of treating insurance as a single topic; and it ends with a final project in which you draft the contracts, structure the cover and settle a casualty for a real type of commercial voyage.

Program typeProfessional diploma
ModeOnline
Duration800 hours
Modules8
Start1 December

Program highlights

  • Legal framework: sources of maritime law, registration, mortgages, arrest, limitation of liability and arbitration.
  • Charter parties: voyage, time and bareboat charters, GENCON, NYPE, BARECON, laytime and demurrage.
  • Bills of lading: functions, types, key clauses, letters of indemnity, claused B/Ls and electronic B/Ls.
  • Marine insurance: MIA 1906, Insurance Act 2015, hull and machinery, war risks and total loss.
  • Cargo and P&I: Institute Cargo Clauses, Incoterms 2020, P&I clubs, FD&D and letters of undertaking.
  • Final project: contracts, insurance structure and casualty settlement for a commercial voyage.
Syllabus

Syllabus of the Professional Diploma in Maritime Contracts and Marine Insurance

8 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

International legal framework and the legal regime of shipping

  • 1.1. Sources of international maritime law: conventions, usage, custom and lex maritima
  • 1.2. The ship as a legal entity: nationality, registration, ship mortgages and arrest
  • 1.3. Civil liability in maritime transport and limitation of shipowners' liability (LLMC)
  • 1.4. Jurisdiction, maritime arbitration and governing-law clauses (LMAA, SMA New York)
  • 1.5. Conventions on the carriage of goods: the Hague-Visby, Hamburg and Rotterdam Rules
  • 1.6. The role of classification societies and class surveys in the insurability of the vessel
  • 1.7. Maritime commercial codes and the regulations of port and maritime authorities
  • 1.8. International conventions on maritime transport
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 2

Charter parties and the commercial employment of the ship

  • 2.1. Types of contract for employing a ship: voyage charter, time charter and bareboat charter
  • 2.2. Analysis and interpretation of standard forms (GENCON, BALTIME, NYPE, BARECON)
  • 2.3. Critical charter clauses: vessel description, seaworthiness and speed and consumption
  • 2.4. Laytime calculation, demurrage and despatch
  • 2.5. Safe port nomination and strike, war, ice and piracy clauses
  • 2.6. Contracts of affreightment (COA) and multimodal transport
  • 2.7. Commercial disputes under charter parties, claims handling and arbitration procedures
  • 2.8. The NYPE time charter form
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 3

The bill of lading and transport documentation

  • 3.1. Legal functions of the bill of lading: receipt for cargo, document of title and evidence of the contract
  • 3.2. Types of B/L: order, bearer, straight, shipped on board, received for shipment and sea waybill
  • 3.3. The Paramount clause, the Both-to-Blame Collision clause and the Himalaya clause
  • 3.4. Letters of indemnity (LOIs) for delivering cargo without the original B/L and their risks
  • 3.5. Remarks on the B/L (clean versus claused) and cargo condition surveys
  • 3.6. Digitalization of maritime trade: electronic bills of lading (e-B/L) and blockchain
  • 3.7. The carrier's liability for loss of, damage to or delay in delivery of the goods
  • 3.8. Letters of indemnity and clean bills of lading
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 4

Foundations of marine insurance and the Marine Insurance Act

  • 4.1. Origins and fundamental principles of marine insurance: utmost good faith and the indemnity principle
  • 4.2. Reference legal framework: the Marine Insurance Act 1906 (MIA) and the Insurance Act 2015
  • 4.3. Insurable interest, disclosure of material facts and misrepresentation
  • 4.4. Express and implied warranties and the consequences of breach
  • 4.5. Types of marine policy: voyage, time, valued, floating and open cover
  • 4.6. Causes of loss: insured perils, perils of the sea, piracy, inherent vice and wilful misconduct of the assured
  • 4.7. Structure of the marine insurance market: Lloyd's of London, company insurers and reinsurance brokers
  • 4.8. The indemnity principle and the insured value
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 5

Hull and machinery insurance and war risks

  • 5.1. Hull and machinery cover: the Institute Time Clauses (Hulls)
  • 5.2. Determining the insurable value of the ship and covering parts, equipment and stores
  • 5.3. Covered risks: collision, grounding, fire, explosion, machinery breakdown and crew negligence (Inchmaree clause)
  • 5.4. War, strikes and piracy cover and listed areas of heightened risk (JWC Listed Areas)
  • 5.5. Actual total loss and constructive total loss
  • 5.6. Complementary covers: collision liability (3/4ths Running Down Clause) and salvage charges
  • 5.7. Hull damage surveys and claims settlement under H&M
  • 5.8. War and strikes clauses
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 6

Cargo insurance

  • 6.1. Cargo cover: the Institute Cargo Clauses A, B and C
  • 6.2. Incoterms 2020 and their effect on the transfer of risk and the duty to insure (CIF/CIP)
  • 6.3. Special covers: refrigerated cargo, liquid and dry bulk, project cargo and dangerous goods
  • 6.4. The transit clause: duration of cover from warehouse to warehouse
  • 6.5. Excluded risks: insufficient packing, delay, shipowner insolvency, inherent vice and nuclear weapons
  • 6.6. Handling cargo claims: sea protests, surveyors' reports and subrogation
  • 6.7. Claims against ocean carriers and insurers' recovery actions
  • 6.8. Cargo damage claims
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 7

Protection and indemnity (P&I) clubs and P&I liabilities

  • 7.1. Structure, mutual nature and operation of P&I clubs (International Group of P&I Clubs)
  • 7.2. P&I covers: injury and death of crew and passengers, oil pollution, wreck removal and damage to fixed and floating objects (FFO)
  • 7.3. Cargo liability cover under P&I and the approval of non-standard contracts and clauses
  • 7.4. Freight, demurrage and defense (FD&D) cover
  • 7.5. P&I club letters of undertaking (LOUs) to release arrested ships
  • 7.6. The calls system: advance calls, supplementary calls and release calls
  • 7.7. Handling major casualties and the reinsurance structure of the International Group
  • 7.8. P&I club covers
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 8

Maritime casualties, general average and final project

  • 8.1. The institution of general average: fundamental principles and history
  • 8.2. The York-Antwerp Rules: application, allowable expenditure and sacrifices
  • 8.3. The role of the average adjuster and the procedure for declaring general average
  • 8.4. General average security: average bonds and average guarantees
  • 8.5. Salvage: the International Convention on Salvage and Lloyd's Open Form (LOF) with the SCOPIC clause
  • 8.6. Handling complex casualties: collisions, groundings, fires on board and pollution spills
  • 8.7. Presentation of the final project
  • 8.8. Final project: analysis, contract drafting, structuring of insurance policies and casualty settlement for a commercial voyage
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Professional Diploma in Maritime Contracts and Marine Insurance

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 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 Professional Diploma in Maritime Contracts and Marine Insurance

01Manage and mitigate legal risk in maritime operations through due diligence protocols that check the documentation, insurance and regulatory compliance of ships, crews and cargo.
02Apply the law governing charter parties and marine insurance policies, interpreting clauses to assess risks and obligations and handling claims correctly.
03Interpret and manage the essential documents of maritime contracting and insurance, identifying covers, exclusions and responsibilities with precision.
04Resolve marine insurance disputes and claims effectively by analyzing the policy, assessing damage and negotiating fair and efficient solutions with the parties involved.
05Evaluate and structure maritime contracts tailored to each client, adapting standard BIMCO and London market clauses to the applicable law and the specific operational risk.
06Optimize risk and insurance management in commercial shipping by reviewing policies, identifying gaps in cover and proposing improvements.
Careers

Career opportunities after the Professional Diploma in Maritime Contracts and Marine Insurance

01Maritime contracts managerdrafting, negotiating and administering charter parties, sale and purchase and shipbuilding contracts.
02Marine insurance specialistrisk analysis, underwriting support, and claims handling for hull, cargo and liability covers.
03Maritime law consultantadvice on carriage of goods, insurance and liability matters for shipowners, charterers and traders.
04Average adjuster or claims adjusterassessing damage to ships or cargo and apportioning responsibility between the parties.
05Risk manager in a shipping company or insureridentifying, assessing and mitigating maritime risks.
06Mediator or arbitrator in maritime disputes, after gaining the professional standing required in each forum
Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Professional Diploma in Maritime Contracts and Marine Insurance

In the commercial contracts of shipping, charter parties and bills of lading, and in the marine insurance that covers ships, cargo and shipowners' liabilities, including the handling of casualties and general average.

Yes. Three modules focus on the legal framework, charter parties and bills of lading, and four on marine insurance: principles, hull and machinery, cargo and P&I, before the final module on casualties.

Charter forms such as GENCON, NYPE, BALTIME and BARECON, the Institute Time Clauses (Hulls), the Institute Cargo Clauses A, B and C, Lloyd's Open Form for salvage and the York-Antwerp Rules for general average.

The course is an introduction aimed at recreational boating and small businesses. This diploma works at professional level with commercial shipping: charter parties, bills of lading, the London insurance market and P&I clubs.

No. Lawyers, brokers, insurers, operators and logistics professionals all benefit; basic notions of commercial law and insurance help you follow the clause analysis.

Yes. Because much of the market works under English law, the program studies the Marine Insurance Act 1906, the Insurance Act 2015 and LMAA arbitration, alongside the international conventions.

Through practical exercises such as laytime calculations, clause reviews and claims cases, and through the final project, in which you document and insure a commercial voyage and settle a casualty.

A Navalis Institute professional diploma and a portfolio of drafted clauses, insurance structures and claim settlements from 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: aimed at maritime and corporate lawyers, insurers and claims adjusters, shipowners, operators and brokers, executives in logistics, international trade and port terminals, and maritime professionals moving into legal and insurance roles; a degree in law, business administration, economics or a related field, or proven experience in the maritime sector, is recommended, together with basic knowledge of commercial law and insurance.
  • Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
  • Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection to view the course materials and take part in the forums.
  • Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
  1. 01
    Application
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  2. 02
    Instant review
    We check that everything is complete and in order.
  3. 03
    Enrollment
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