Legal Frameworks for Maritime Safety, Security, and Logistics in Global Shipping
Assessment Brief:
Module: MARLAW 4013 – Maritime Law, Safety and Security Operations
Programme: BSc (Hons) Maritime Operations Management / MSc Maritime Law and Logistics
Credit Value: 20 credits
Level: Level 6 (UG Final Year) / Level 7 (PG)
Assessment Type: Coursework – Legal/Analytical Report
Weighting: 50 % of total module mark
Word Count: 3,500 ± 10 % (excluding footnotes, bibliography, appendices)
Submission Deadline: Friday 2 May 2025 – 23:59 BST via the Virtual Learning Environment
Feedback: Within 20 working days
Module Learning Outcomes Assessed
Upon successful completion of this assessment, students will be able to:
- Critically evaluate how maritime law underpins international and domestic frameworks for safety and security at sea.
- Apply relevant conventions (e.g., SOLAS, ISPS Code, UNCLOS, SUA Convention, and MARPOL) to operational and logistical maritime contexts.
- Analyse how legal compliance interacts with practical aspects of port operations, cargo logistics, and vessel management.
- Demonstrate research, reasoning, and communication skills appropriate to professional maritime practice.
Assignment Task
You are the Compliance and Legal Officer for Atlantic Marine Logistics Ltd, a UK-based shipping and port logistics firm managing container, bulk, and passenger operations across European ports.
Following recent port-state control inspections and heightened international security alerts, your CEO has requested a legal and operational report assessing how maritime law affects the company’s safety, security, and logistics operations.
Your report must:
- Analyse the legal frameworks governing maritime safety and security (SOLAS, MARPOL, ISPS Code, SUA Convention, UNCLOS III).
- Evaluate the company’s obligations for compliance, risk assessment, and liability in relation to vessel operations, port logistics, and crew safety.
- Discuss recent legal developments (2019–2025) that affect maritime safety and logistics, including environmental and cyber-security dimensions.
- Explain the implications of non-compliance (liability, detention, penalties, insurance implications).
- Recommend best-practice measures to enhance operational compliance, including documentation, training, and integration of legal obligations into safety management systems (ISM Code).
Your analysis should integrate both legal principles and practical maritime operations (e.g., ship–port interface, cargo handling, crew welfare, and digital logistics).
Support arguments with conventions, UK and international statutes, case law, and recent academic or industry research (2019–2025).
Marking & Assessment Criteria
| Criterion | Weight | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Legal & Regulatory Knowledge | 30 % | Demonstrates detailed understanding of relevant conventions, treaties, and statutory frameworks. |
| Critical Analysis & Application | 30 % | Applies legal principles to real operational and logistical contexts; evaluates implications and solutions. |
| Research & Use of Authority | 20 % | Integration of recent, credible, peer-reviewed academic and professional sources; correct citation. |
| Structure & Presentation | 10 % | Logical, professional structure; clarity, coherence, and adherence to academic writing standards. |
| Referencing & Professionalism | 10 % | Correct referencing (Harvard/APA); professional tone and formatting; grammar and spelling accuracy. |
Academic Integrity
All work must be original and appropriately referenced. Use of AI-generated content must comply with the university’s academic integrity policy.
References
- Bloor, M., Sampson, H., Gekara, V., & Walters, D. (2022). Maritime governance and seafarers’ safety culture: A comparative study. Maritime Policy & Management, 49(3), 377–394. https://doi.org/10.1080/03088839.2021.1978825
- Mallin, L., & Akpinar, M. (2023). Legal implications of cyber security in maritime logistics. Journal of Transportation Security, 16(2), 87–104. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12198-023-00245-9
- Xing, H., Su, Z., & Cao, X. (2022). The rule of law for marine environmental governance in maritime transport. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9, 1001556. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.1001556
- Ventikos, N. P., & Psaraftis, H. N. (2021). Legal and operational frameworks for maritime safety management: An integrated approach. WMU Journal of Maritime Affairs, 20(1), 23–42. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13437-020-