Assessment Brief: MARL711 — Maritime Law, Safety and Security Operations (2025)
Module Title: Maritime Law, Safety and Security Operations
Module Code: MARL711
Level: 7 (Postgraduate – LLM/MSc)
Weighting: 50% of module grade
Submission: Turnitin via Moodle, Due: 12 May 2025, 23:59 (UK time)
Word Count: 3,000 words (±10%)
Assessment Type: Individual Research-Based Essay
Assessment Title
“Critically examine the role of international maritime law in ensuring safety, security, and environmental protection in global maritime logistics.”
Learning Outcomes Assessed
Upon successful completion of this assessment, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the international legal framework governing maritime safety and security.
- Evaluate the legal responsibilities of flag, port, and coastal states under international conventions.
- Analyse how legal mechanisms impact operational logistics and maritime supply chain resilience.
- Critically appraise recent regulatory developments and case law concerning maritime safety and cyber-security.
- Formulate legal and policy recommendations to strengthen maritime governance and operational compliance.
Assessment Task
You are required to:
- Critically analyse the interaction between international maritime conventions and national implementation mechanisms concerning safety and security (e.g. SOLAS, ISPS Code, MARPOL, UNCLOS).
- Evaluate how these conventions influence the practical aspects of maritime logistics operations—including port operations, vessel traffic management, and cargo handling.
- Discuss the growing importance of cyber-security, piracy prevention, and environmental liability regimes in global supply chain resilience.
- Provide recommendations for enhancing maritime safety and logistics security through effective legal and operational frameworks.
Assessment Criteria
| Criterion | Weight | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Legal and Theoretical Understanding | 30% | Demonstrates in-depth knowledge of international maritime law frameworks and their practical applications. |
| Critical Analysis & Evaluation | 25% | Examines legal, policy, and operational tensions with scholarly insight. |
| Integration of Research | 20% | Incorporates diverse, credible, and current (post-2019) academic and legal sources. |
| Argument Structure and Clarity | 15% | Logical flow, coherent argumentation, and precision in legal reasoning. |
| Presentation and Referencing | 10% | Clear academic style and accurate Harvard referencing. |
Submission Instructions
- Submit electronically through Turnitin.
- Include student number, module code, and title on the cover page.
- Use Harvard referencing style consistently.
- Append a full reference list and, if relevant, a bibliography.
References
- Chircop, A. (2023). International Maritime Law and Policy: A Practical Guide to the Legal Frameworks for Maritime Safety and Security. Routledge.
- Ringbom, H. (2022). “Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships and the International Law of the Sea.” Ocean Development & International Law, 53(1), pp. 1–22.
- Ghafele, R., and Munro, G. (2020). “Cybersecurity and Maritime Logistics: Legal and Policy Dimensions.” WMU Journal of Maritime Affairs, 19(3), pp. 341–361.
- Papanikolaou, A. (2021). Risk-Based Ship Design and Operation: Safety and Security within the IMO Framework. Springer.
- Martinez, M. and Papageorgiou, D. (2019). “Environmental Compliance and Liability in Maritime Logistics Operations.” Journal of Transport Law, Logistics & Policy, 45(2), pp. 189–210
