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  6. LS505U: Legal Liabilities in Maritime Law

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LS505U: LEGAL LIABILITIES IN MARITIME LAW (2026-2027)

Last modified: 13 Apr 2026 12:16


Course Overview

Around 80% of the global volume of world trade is carried by sea. This course examines the unique legal issues that apply to international shipping in the context of maritime casualties. We consider the duties imposed on ships and their owner, including those relating to navigation, safety, and pollution. We examine how a claimant may enforce their claim against a ship. We consider future challenges facing the shipping industry such as GHG emissions and the introduction of autonomous vessels

Course Details

Study Type Postgraduate Level 5
Term First Term Credit Points 30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Luci Carey

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Any Postgraduate Programme (Studied)
  • Law (LS)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

The issues selected for examination in the course vary depending on contemporary developments in the field. However, the indicative topics covered by the course are:

  1.  Navigation and collisions in the context of the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea 1972 and the 1910 Collision Convention).
  2. The international conventions that apply to the prevention of pollution from ships and the liability that arises when there is a pollution incident.
  3. Salvage and towage Contracts, including the consequences of whether a contract is defined as salvage or towage, and the Salvage Convention 1989.
  4. Limitation of liability, including the background to the right to limit liability of shipowners for maritime claims and the different applicable regimes based on the type of claim.
  5. Enforcement of maritime claims and ship arrest, including how claims are ranked where there are multiple claims against the ship and judicial sale of ships.
  6. Legal issues in the future of shipping, including the impact of novel technologies and climate change and the legal challenges that arise in this context and how they may be addressed.

 


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 31 August 2025 for 1st Term courses and 19 December 2025 for 2nd Term courses.

Summative Assessments

Exam

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 70
Assessment Weeks 20 Feedback Weeks 25

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Feedback on assessment will be normally provided within a maximum of three working weeks (excluding vacation periods) following the deadline for submission of the assessment.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseAnalyse the legal issues impacting on the future of shipping
ConceptualUnderstandAcquire knowledge and understanding of the international regimes that apply to maritime liabilities arising from shipping activities.
FactualEvaluateCritically evaluate the legal complexities that arise in an international shipping incident as well the practical legal solutions to complex claims.

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 30
Assessment Weeks 15 Feedback Weeks 18

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Word count: 2,500 words (including footnotes and excluding bibliography)

Feedback on assessment will be normally provided within a maximum of three working weeks (excluding vacation periods) following the deadline for submission of the assessment.

Word Count 2500
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualUnderstandAcquire knowledge and understanding of the international regimes that apply to maritime liabilities arising from shipping activities.
FactualEvaluateCritically evaluate the legal complexities that arise in an international shipping incident as well the practical legal solutions to complex claims.

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Resit Failed Elements in same format or exam

Assessment Type Summative Weighting
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Resit failed elements in same format if due to extenuating circumstances. If both elements are failed, the resit is 100% exam.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualUnderstandAcquire knowledge and understanding of the international regimes that apply to maritime liabilities arising from shipping activities.
FactualEvaluateCritically evaluate the legal complexities that arise in an international shipping incident as well the practical legal solutions to complex claims.
ConceptualAnalyseAnalyse the legal issues impacting on the future of shipping
 

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