The sea has no single police force — a vessel can cross a dozen legal jurisdictions in one voyage, each with its own rules on safety, liability and environmental protection. This Maritime Law in Practice course from Arab British Fellowship Training Academy gives professionals a working map of that legal landscape: IMO regulation, SOLAS, UNCLOS, shipping contracts, marine insurance and dispute resolution.

This management-focused programme connects international conventions, maritime contracts and environmental regulation to the decisions made daily on ships, in ports and offshore. Through case studies and real legal scenarios, participants build the judgement to ensure compliance, cut legal exposure and support strong governance across shipping companies and maritime organisations.

• Explain why maritime law spans multiple, overlapping legal jurisdictions.
• Understand the role of IMO regulations in global maritime governance.
• Apply SOLAS requirements to ship safety and emergency preparedness.
• Interpret UNCLOS provisions on maritime boundaries and navigation rights.
• Understand shipping law covering charter parties, bills of lading and cargo claims.
• Apply principles of marine insurance and liability allocation.
• Navigate maritime arbitration, litigation and dispute resolution.
• Ensure compliance with environmental maritime law and sustainable shipping standards.
• Strengthen port-level compliance, risk management and corporate governance.

Target Audience

• Shipping company managers.
• Maritime legal advisors.
• Marine operations managers.
• Shipowners and vessel operators.
• Port authority professionals.
• Marine insurance specialists.
• Maritime compliance officers.
• Logistics and freight professionals.
• Marine surveyors.
• Government maritime regulators.
• Offshore industry professionals.
• Professionals seeking expertise in Maritime Law.

Module 1: Whose Law Applies at Sea? Why Maritime Law Is Different

• Fundamentals of Maritime Law and its legal sources.
• Maritime legal systems and how they interact.
• Global shipping governance structures.
• Why jurisdiction matters before anything else.

Module 2: The IMO and the Global Rulebook for Shipping

• Structure and role of the IMO.
• Key IMO conventions.
• Compliance with IMO regulations.
• International maritime governance in practice.

Module 3: SOLAS — The Legal Baseline for Safety at Sea

• Principles of SOLAS.
• Ship safety requirements.
• Emergency preparedness obligations.
• Safety compliance management.

Module 4: UNCLOS and Maritime Jurisdiction

• Overview of UNCLOS.
• Maritime boundaries.
• Rights of coastal and flag states.
• Navigation freedoms and responsibilities.

Module 5: Shipping Law — Charter Parties, Bills of Lading and Cargo Claims

• Charter party agreements.
• Bills of lading.
• Cargo claims.
• International commercial shipping contracts.

Module 6: Marine Insurance and Liability

• Marine insurance principles.
• Hull and cargo insurance.
• Protection and indemnity (P&I).
• Risk allocation and liability.

Module 7: Resolving Maritime Disputes — Arbitration and Litigation

• Maritime arbitration.
• Litigation procedures.
• Jurisdiction issues.
• International dispute settlement.

Module 8: Environmental Maritime Law and Sustainable Shipping Compliance

• Marine pollution regulations.
• Environmental liability.
• Ballast water management.
• Sustainable shipping compliance.

Module 9: Port Control, Risk and Corporate Compliance at Sea

• Port state control and vessel inspections.
• Port authority responsibilities and regulatory enforcement.
• Compliance management systems and legal risk assessment.
• Corporate governance and best practices for maritime legal compliance.