| MLA603 Maritime Regulation and Governance |
MLA603 Assignment Information 2026
Referral paper (2)
There is one summative assessment for MLA603. The assessment brief starts on page 8, but please read carefully all the information provided below.
Assessment deadline: Sunday 26th April, 23:59 UK
Deadlines are very important. If you think you may miss a deadline, inform your tutor as soon as possible. Consult the Total Learning Package (TLP) for further information.
If you have studied before with MLA College, you should notice that this document includes a new section on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for the preparation of your coursework – please carefully read this section as inappropriate use of AI may be considered an academic misconduct.
Technical matters and formatting
Please ensure that you include the coursework cover sheet with your coursework. A copy of this is included below.
Present your answers logically in your coursework document and write clearly and succinctly. Don’t forget to spell check your work and proofread it carefully before submission.
Please read the University of Plymouth plagiarism policy (https://bit.ly/2CMKh1F). If you are in any doubt as to what plagiarism means or consists of, contact your tutor immediately.
Please also watch the following videos that have been produced specifically to help you understand plagiarism, and importantly, how to use Turnitin to submit your coursework (see below): Plagiarism video tutorials.
Word count
Word counts are deliberately challenging, and you are expected to remain within (+/-) 10% of the stated limit. It demands succinct, clear and effective writing. Review every sentence critically and make sure every word is needed.
The following components are not included in your word count:
- coursework cover sheet
- list of contents or index
- lists of abbreviations or acronyms
- index of figures, tables and diagrams
- tables, figures and diagrams embedded in the text
- bibliography or list of references
Referencing
All academic work must be referenced using the Harvard Referencing System. Read the relevant ‘Guide to Referencing.pdf’ in the TLP and contact your tutor if anything is unclear.
Submission of your Coursework
Each coursework must be submitted as a single word-processed document containing all your answers. Submission of your written coursework will be via Turnitin. Read the following steps and take action as appropriate:
- You will receive an emailed invite to the module or class area from Turnitin.
- The invite from Turnitin contains a link to the assessment submission section for your module. You will need to upload your document following the instructions contained in this guide: Turnitin quick start guide.
- For non-written assessments (e.g. video presentations or practical exercises) please read carefully the submission instructions included within each question.
- Should you have any difficulty in accessing Turnitin, please speak to your tutor without delay.
Finally, just some points about the level of available support and the marking process.
Formative feedback
You have the opportunity to submit a single draft of your assessment, or each question, prior to the formal submission deadline, allowing your tutor to give some formative feedback and advice on whether your answers are on-track. Please note, however, the following points.
Whilst tutors will be available for general advice and support at all times, it is unlikely you will be in a position to implement changes to your coursework when draft work is submitted very close to the submission deadline. Further, tutor availability in the week leading up to the submission deadline is limited. As such, please do not request comments on draft work any later than the end of the penultimate week (e.g., week 12 for 13-week modules; week 7 for 8-week modules).
Additionally, please note that your work should be your own and not a collaborative effort between you and your tutor. The principal role of the tutor is to guide and support you through the module. The expectation is that you will ask questions and seek clarification on any technical matters as opposed to requesting that your tutor proofreads your work. As such, you should not expect them to confirm if draft work is correct and/or likely to pass. It is your ability to address the learning outcomes of the module that is being assessed.
You should submit your draft answers via Turnitin; look out for the instructions that will follow from your tutor. A further advantage of this is that you will be able to check your answers for similarities with other sources (e.g., those from the internet) and correct for this as necessary. Note that you will receive detailed feedback of your marked coursework, usually around four weeks from the submission date.
Accessing your final (summative) marks and feedback
Your final marks, comments and feedback will be available a few weeks after the submission date of each assessment, and access to these is through Turnitin. Within the Turnitin class, you will see a module ‘post-date’. This is the date that your provisional module marks and feedback will be released. No other correspondence concerning your provisional grade will be issued; however, through Turnitin you do have the facility to print your marked coursework, including all tutor comments and feedback, for your own records.
Marking scheme
At the beginning of the assessment questions there are tables showing how the marks are allocated across the coursework. A Marking Criteria table is included at the end of this document, which is used when marking your coursework. You should familiarise yourself with these criteria and understand what is required to achieve the highest possible mark.
Please note that your assessment may be marked and/or moderated by a member of the academic teaching team other than your tutor. The marks awarded during your study of this module are provisional and will be confirmed at the next MLA College / University of Plymouth Subject Panel and Award Board.
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
As AI-powered tools become increasingly common in the field of education, particularly in relation to writing assistance, it is crucial to establish a clear policy regarding students’ utilisation of these tools. While AI can be beneficial in assisting students with learning, tracking their progress, and generating original content, it is crucial to acknowledge that they can also be misused or overused. Relying too heavily on such tools will limit student chances to improve their writing, critical thinking, and assessment abilities – vital skills for their academic and professional growth.
MLA College has prepared a comprehensive handbook to assist you in utilising AI content responsibly in your assignments. The goal is to equip you with the necessary information to acknowledge, describe, and reference any AI content you have incorporated into your assignments in a safe and proper manner.
The AI handbook, AI Guide for students, is included in the ‘Assessment’ section of your TLP. You must follow the guidelines provided in the handbook and acknowledge and document in an Appendix any utilisation of AI in the preparation of your coursework.
As a student, it’s vital for you to understand that any submission made under your name is of your responsibility.
Note: although not visible to students, Turnitin now incorporates an AI detector which provides an AI score (likelihood / amount of AI generated content) and identifies text generated by AI (similar to the originality-checking tool available to students). Any non-declared AI use will be investigated by MLA College.
MLA College Coursework cover sheet
PLEASE NOTE THAT A COPY OF THIS COVER SHEET SHOULD BE DOWNLOADED BY CLICKING ON THE LINK IN THE ASSESSMENT PAGE OF THE TLP.
YOU MUST COMPLETE THE COVER SHEET AS INDICATED AND SIGN THE DECLARATION AT THE BOTTOM. ATTACH THE COMPLETED COVER SHEET TO THE FRONT OF YOUR COURSEWORK PRIOR TO UPLOADING AS A SINGLE DOCUMENT TO TURNITIN.
| Student Name | |
| Module code | |
| Module name | |
| Submission deadline | |
| Submission word count | |
| Tutor name | |
| Programme (e.g., Sustainable Maritime Operations) | |
| Please note that the MLA College Academic Regulations are contained within the student handbook on the MLA College website here: student handbook. | |
MLA603 Assessment Brief
| Chapter | Question | Assessment | Word Count | % |
| Chapter 1:
Maritime Legislation & Regulation |
1 | Short Answer | 1,000 | 15 |
| Chapter 2:
Management & Leadership |
2 | Essay | 2,000 | 45 |
| Chapter 3:
Financial and Economic Models in Maritime Business |
3 | Report | 1,500 | 40 |
| Coursework Submission TOTAL | 4,500 | 100 |
Include visual aids (figures, tables) in your answers where relevant. Support statements and opinions with references, preferable from primary literature (peer reviewed articles). References must follow the Harvard style of referencing. Guidance on referencing, critical thinking, and essay and report writing, are available in the ‘study help’ section of the TLP.
Question 1
Consider the following scenario, and answer the questions that follow.
Fictional cargo company Oceania Ltd. contracts under English law to ship 1,000 tonnes of grain from Port A to Port B. The bill of lading incorporates the Hague-Visby Rules. Upon arrival, the ship’s master delivers the grain to a local agent without production of the bills of lading. The true consignee later discovers this and brings a claim against the carrier for misdelivery—more than 14 months after the discharge took place. The carrier argues that the claim is out of time under the bill of lading terms and the Rules.
Drawing on the Hague-Visby Rules and relevant English law principles, discuss:
- What interpretive issues arise from this scenario?
- Which provisions of the Hague-Visby Rules are most relevant, and why?
- How should those provisions be interpreted in light of the facts?
- What arguments might each side (the carrier and the consignee) make regarding the carrier’s liability?
- In your view, what would likely be the outcome under English law?
Question 2
Marine energy infrastructure projects—such as offshore wind developments, tidal or wave energy installations, and supporting port or grid upgrades—are inherently complex, involving multiple actors with diverse and often conflicting interests. Effective stakeholder engagement is therefore critical to their success.
Task:
Drawing on the stakeholder management theory discussed in Chapter 2 of the module, as well your examination of relevant academic literature, critically evaluate the processes of stakeholder identification, classification, and engagement in the context of a marine energy infrastructure project.
Your answer should:
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of stakeholder theory, including relevant classification models and engagement strategies, with reference to key literature.
- Select and analyse a specific energy infrastructure project—this may be a planned, ongoing, or recently completed project.
- For your chosen project, identify and classify key stakeholders using an appropriate theoretical framework, justified as appropriate. Important: Your analysis of stakeholders must be original, based on your own evaluation, and not reliant or paraphrase previously published stakeholder assessments.
- Outline briefly an appropriate stakeholder engagement and communication plan, based on your classification, tailored to the selected project’s scale, scope, and stakeholder landscape.
- Critically reflect on challenges such as conflict, power imbalances, and the need for compromise. How might inclusive, best-practice engagement approaches mitigate risks such as stakeholder marginalisation or project delays?
Question 3
The following pages give you the accounts for Paramount Maritime Safety Limited to the year end, which were the subject of an exercise accompanying lecture six, and should therefore be familiar to you.
To aid you in addressing the following questions, here is some further background information about the company:
- The company has no employees beyond the owners, who both work full-time in the business.
- They currently rent a small retail unit close to the Millbay Marina in Plymouth. The current lease will run for two years.
- There is no possibility of expanding this current site, either in terms of retail floor space or storage capacity.
- The bulk of sales so far have been business to business with only a quarter being across-the-counter retail sales to the public.
- The owners are now in their mid-fifties and plan to retire in their early sixties.
Please comment on the financial performance of the business in its first year of trade, having undertaken a detailed analysis of the three key accounting statements.
You should support your answer with financial ratios addressing:
- Profitability
- Performance
- Gearing
- Investment
- Liquidity
together with in-depth commentary, relating to each of the three key financial statements, giving a comprehensive appraisal of the company’s first year of trading.
Remember you can adapt or create your own financial ratios.
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Appendix
| Paramount Marine Safety Limited | ||
| Profit & Loss Account | ||
| Year end: 31st December 20XX | ||
| Sales | 90,000 | |
| Cost of Sales 34,000 | 34,000 |
| Gross profit | 56,000 | |||
| Overheads | ||||
| Salaries | 27,000 | |||
| Rent | 3,000 | |||
| Sales Commission | 9,000 | |||
| Electricity | 800 | |||
| Telephone | 400 | |||
| Advertising | 2,500 | |||
| Insurance | 1,000 | |||
| Motor expenses | 750 | |||
| Depreciation | 2,000 |
| Bank Loan interest | 46,850 | |||
| Net Profit | 9,150 |
| Balance Sheet | ||||
| Year end: 31st December 20XX | ||||
| Fixed Assets | ||||
| Plant & Machinery | 6,000 | |||
| Current Assets | ||||
| Stock | 10,200 | |||
| Debtors | 9,750 | |||
| Prepayment | 500 |
| 20,450 | 20,450 | |||
| Current Liabilities | ||||
| Creditors | 2,700 | |||
| Accruals | 300 | |||
| Loan repayments (capital) | 2,000 | |||
| Overdraft | 300 |
| 5,300 | 5,300 | |||
| Working Capital | ||||
| Long-term liabilities | ||||
| Bank loan (capital) | 2,000 | |||
| Total assets less total liabilities | 19,150 | |||
| Capital employed | ||||
| Owners’ original capital | 10,000 | |||
| Profits for first year of trading | 9,150 |
Paramount Marine Safety Limited
Total capital employed 19,150 Paramount Marine Safety
Limited
Cash Flow
Year end: 31st December 20XX
| Owner’s capital | 10,000 |
| Cash from sales | 80,250 |
| Loan received | 6,000 |
| 96,250 | 96,250 | ||||
| Outflows | |||||
| Trade creditors | 41,500 | ||||
| Expenses paid out | 44,550 | ||||
| Capital expenditure | 8,000 | ||||
| Loan capital repayments | 2,000 | ||||
| Prepayment | 500 | ||||
| 96,550 | 96,550 | ||||
| Cash at bank | |||||
| (i.e. overdraft) | -300 |
Inflows
MLA College Grading Scheme for Undergraduate Modules
| Degree Class | Grade | Numerical Equivalent (%) |
| A+ | 95+ | |
| First | A | 85 |
| A- | 75 | |
| B+ | 68 | |
| Upper second | B | 65 |
| B- | 62 | |
| C+ | 58 | |
| Lower second | C | 55 |
| C- | 52 | |
| D+ | 48 | |
| Third | D | 45 |
| Pass (= or > 40%) | D- | 42 |
| E+ | 38 | |
| Fail (marginal) | E | 35 |
| E- | 32 | |
| F+ | 25 | |
| Fail | F | 15 |
| F- | 5 | |
| No acceptable answer | 0 | 0 |
MLA603 Assignment Marking Criteria
| A | B | C | D | E | F | |
| Content | Fully addresses the assessment brief using all relevant information with few errors | Addresses the assessment brief with most facts relevant and no significant errors | Addresses the assessment brief using core information but some gaps in subject knowledge | Addresses the assessment brief but containing a minimal amount of the required material | A marginal fail, does not contain enough relevant information to address brief and/or contains multiple errors | Clear fail that does not
address assessment brief, with totally inadequate or irrelevant information |
| Understanding and Evaluation | Full understanding of topic within wider context. Full critical evaluation with arguments supported by evidence and examples. | Substantial understanding demonstrated. Critical evaluation present with arguments supported by evidence. | Adequate understanding demonstrated although evaluation may be limited with restricted use of
evidence |
Enough understanding demonstrated but with minimal evaluation and/or evidence offered | Marginal understanding demonstrated that lacks evaluation and evidence | A concerning lack of understanding and evaluation present. |
| Originality/
Independent Thinking |
Evidence of considerable insight and independent thinking e.g. by including own views; making connections with other subject areas etc. | Substantially correct independent thinking with links to other areas/studies. | Some individuality within the assessment but not always fully explored | Own views minimally offered and/or displaying scientific naivety | Marginal originality and/or independent thought | No evidence of any valid independent thought |
| Data Analysis and
Interpretation |
An analytical/discriminating approach to the data, applying appropriate statistics. Comprehensive understanding of implications & limitations of the data | A sound approach to data analysis, applying valid statistical tests. Good understanding of data and associated limitations | Suitable approach to most aspects of data analysis. Valid interpretation but gaps evident | Data analysis attempted but limited, including weak interpretation | Marginal or insufficient data analysis and interpretation | No, or wholly inappropriate, data analysis and interpretation |
| Use of Literature | Evidence of consulting wide range of valid sources of information, especially primary literature. Uses findings to support facts and arguments. Appropriately references
sources within the text and in the reference list |
Evidence of consulting a range of literature to support facts and statements. Mostly cites references sources in correct format within the text and in the reference list | Evidence of consulting a limited range of literature, often with a reliance on textbook sources. References in text or list may contain errors | Some reference to literature evident but statements not wellsupported. References often incorrectly cited and/or listed | Marginal reference to literature with little attempt to incorporate references into work and/or incorrectly cited. | No, or totally
inappropriate reference to literature |
| General
Communication Skills |
Excellent overall standard of presentation, exhibiting a high standard of English and clarity of expression. Excellent layout and structure of material. Legible handwriting or appropriate use of fonts. Highly effective use of relevant visual material. | High standard of presentation, exhibiting a good standard of English and clarity of expression. Good layout and structure of material. Legible handwriting and use of fonts. Good use of relevant visual material. | Adequate standard of presentation, using acceptable standards of English. Some attention to layout, structure and formatting may be needed. Visual material may need some attention. | Low standard of presentation with grammatical errors. Layout and structure may reduce impact and communication. Use of visual material not well-incorporated | Marginal standard of presentation. Poor use of English with clumsy structure. Handwriting may not be legible and/or inappropriate use of fonts. Visual material typically not relevant. | Totally unacceptable standard of presentation with concerning use of English. No, or totally inappropriate, use of visual material. |
| Independence and Use of Support | Completely self-motivated; works independently or in collaboration with others where relevant. Seeks appropriate support as necessary. Formulates problem and relevant questions prior to seeking advice. Is meticulous in acknowledging support and contribution of others. | Mostly self-motivated and able to work well alone or in team. Seeks appropriate support as necessary. Acknowledges support and contribution of others. | Able to work
independently or in a team but may not always access enough support where necessary |
Partly relies on others for motivation or to ensure progress and may be reluctant to seek necessary help. Weak team member. Does not always acknowledge sources of support. |
