LL.M – Maritime Law

It is a little known fact that a ship can be operated from one country, flagged for operational reasons to another and then has crew from yet another nation. This makes the domain of maritime law more intricate, yet exciting to pursue as a professional.

Topics under the maritime law is extremely varied and challenging which covers a huge range of subjects like salvage, collision liabilities, carriage of passengers, marine pollution liabilities, freezing injunctions, ship arrest, towage contracts, the limitation of liabilities and maritime liens.

An LLM in Maritime Law program would be ideal for students and professionals aiming to specialist in the shipping and maritime domain.

This course would take a student through

The program would also expose students to various aspects of international maritime law and the key subjects would include:

Admiralty Law – where the scope includes acquisitions and transfer of interest in ships; ship mortgages; collisions; salvage; and marine pollution.

International Law of the Sea – which explores the legal framework of a range of activities

Marine Insurance Law – which explores circumstances in which risks to parties, cargo and ships involved in international trade can be covered

International Sales Law

Carriage of Goods by Sea – which would offer insights into maritime law and shipping contracts, charter party agreements, marine environment, marine insurance and a gamut of other topics of relevance which would make you stand out.

Target Audience

The program would interest anyone who has a passion for shipping and the diverse legalities that ships need to comply with not just limited nationally but on an international level.

The course is also aimed to attract those who are already working in the industry but strive to get on to a very exciting and challenging role.

LL.M - Maritime Law – unlimited career prospects

  • Tremendous scope to work for an established law firm which serves big clients
  • Increasing demand for maritime lawyers for trading companies, shipping companies and agencies, insurance companies etc.
  • Increasing business in India of the overseas shipping companies which demands dedicated professionals with knowledge of maritime law
  • Increasing work in the maritime space because of reasons like ship arrest, cargo claims and P and I related work which provides excellent opportunities
  • High rating of Indian lawyers in global maritime sector
  • Growing opportunities to work overseas with P & I clubs and shipping companies
  • A large number of Indian companies setting up overseas companies for chartering and shipping and this would provide great scope to service them or be employed with them

LL.M - Maritime Law – Broad Course Structure 

Semester - 1

Paper 1Research Methods and Legal Writing

  • Introduction to Research Methodology
  • Identification of Problem of Research
  • Preparation of the Research Design
  • Survey Method and Sampling, Basic Quantitative Analysis
  • Elements of Writing: Structure of Paper, Thesis & Report
  • Research Proposal
  • Publication Process
  • Legal Research
  • Source and science of legal research
  • Ethics and legal writing

Paper 2Comparative Public Law/Systems of Governance

  • Scope of the Comparative Study of Public Law or Systems of Governance
  • Nature of the Constitution (Unitary and Federal Constitutions)
  • Principles of Public Law (Rule of Law and Doctrine of Separation of Power)
  • Principles of Natural Justice
  • Federal Governance (Legislative, Administrative and Financial Relations between the Federal and the Provincial Governments)
  • Forms of Government
  • Judicial System (Role of Judiciary, Judicial Review, and Doctrine of State Action)
  • Liability of State and Administration under the Constitution
  • Civil, Political, and Socio-Economic Rights under the Constitution

Paper 3Law & Justice in a Globalizing World

  • Introduction
  • Concept of Law and Legal System
  • Concept and Theories of Justice
  • Concept of Global Law and Justice
  • New Models and Approaches of Global Justice
  • Indian Constitutional Law and Global Justice
  • International Law and Global Justice

Paper 4Law of the Sea

  • Origin of International Law, its nature and sources
  • The relationship between international law and municipal law and the Law of State Responsibility
  • Evolution and Codification of the Law of the Sea
  • Baselines and Island and Marine spaces under National Jurisdiction
  • Marine Spaces Beyond National Jurisdiction
  • Maritime Delimitation
  • Dispute Settlement Procedure
  • Maintenance of international Peace and Security at Sea

Paper 5Shipping Laws and Regulations

  • Introduction to Ships, Shipping and Cargo
  • Law Governing Tramp Trade and Charterparty
  • Bill of Lading and Law Governing Liner Trade
  • Carriage of Passenger and luggage by Sea
  • Shipping Law in India

Semester - 2

Paper 1Law of Shipping Contract and Marine Insurance

  • Introduction to Marine Insurance and its Principles
  • Warranties and Voyage
  • Causation of Maritime Peril
  • Total/partial Loss
  • Principle of Towage, Implied Obligations, and Standard Form of Contract for Towage
  • Law of Salvage, International Salvage Convention, and SCOPIC
  • Ship Building, Purchase, Management, and breaking contract
  • Law of General Average and Pilotage

Paper 2IMO CONVENTIONS AND LAW OF MARINE ENVIRONMENT

  • International Maritime Organisations
  • Pollution in the marine environment
  • Response to Marine Pollution Casualties
  • Liability and Compensation for Ship-Source Pollution
  • Regional Approaches to the Protection of Marine Environment
  • Protection of Marine Diversity
  • International Law for Ocean and Climate

Paper 3Seafarers Rights and Responsibilities

  • Introduction to Seafarers Rights and Responsibilities
  • ILO Conventions on Maritime Labour Law, and Introduction to Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC)
  • Minimum requirements for seafarers to work on a ship
  • Conditions of employment
  • Repatriation, abandonment and recovery of unpaid wages
  • Accommodation, recreational facilities, food, health protection and welfare of seafarers
  • Compliance and enforcement of Maritime Labour Law

Paper 4Law of Maritime Dispute Resolution

  • Nature and History of Admiralty Law
  • Admiralty Jurisdiction: Nature and Content
  • Collision Claims
  • Limitation Claims
  • Ship Mortgages
  • Maritime Arbitration
  • Arbitration Procedure

Paper 5Dissertation

Note: Syllabus is tentative and may be modified by subject Faculty.

Student Exchange programme at Erasmus University, Rotterdam, Netherlands

A portion of the syllabus in second semester will be taught at the Erasmus University, Rotterdam, Netherlands. GMU shall organize a 2 weeks international study tour for students desirous of getting international exposure while pursuing the Masters’ programme. This is one of a kind offering in India, especially in the Maritime sector where students get an international experience of academics as well as industry combined. Erasmus University is amongst the top rated Universities offering Maritime related courses. We are proud to announce that.

Fees

Sr. No. Particulars Fee
One Time
1 Admission Fee (One Time) Rs. 2,000
2 Alumni Fund (Non-Refundable) Rs. 15,000
Total (one time) Rs. 17,000
Annual
3 Tuition Fee (Per annum) Rs. 1,20,000
4 Infrastructural Maintenance Fee (per annum) Rs. 28,000
5 Examination Fee (per annum) Rs. 6,000
6 Academic Facility Fee (per annum) Rs. 18,000
7 Extra-Curricular (per annum) Rs. 3,000
8 Hostel Fees* Rs. 24,000
9 Mess Fees** Rs. 46,200
Annual Fee Rs. 2,62,200/-
10 Cost of Global Externship Programme (Optional) On Actual Basis

Note
The fee structure is subject to revision and in case of any changes, final fees shall be binding to the students being admitted.
* Electricity charges will be charged extra as per the usage.
**Subject to change as per the tender awarded amount from time to time.