Maritime Law: an Introduction to Shipping Transactions (FutureLearn)

We will examine the process of acquiring and financing of new vessels and secondary market tonnage: from the various perspectives of a buyer, a seller, a ship-builder and a bank. We will explore the concept of flags of convenience and modern practice of ship registration.
You will develop an understanding of how the merchant fleets of the world are bought, sold and securitized – and how international conventions regulate ships wherever they are registered.

What topics will you cover?
• An introduction to the maritime sector
• How ships are sold and purchased
• The mechanics behind ship registration
• What flags of convenience are and how they are used
• International regulations and conventions
• Ship finance
• Shipbuilding contracts

What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

• Compare the benefits of registering a ship in different registers globally
• Investigate the legal structures and techniques involved in ship registration
• Evaluate the contractual approaches involved in shipping transactions
• Debate the merits of flags of convenience
• Demonstrate an understanding of ship sale and purchase
• Explain the regulation of the shipping industry globally