Law of the Sea (MSc)
Code MMSC219
Modules 13
Duration 13 months
Registration Any time
Credits 90 ECTS-aligned
Tuition Fees €7,500
Overview
The MSc in Law of the Sea provides a rigorous programme for students seeking advanced expertise in international maritime law and ocean governance. The programme blends core Law of the Sea doctrine (UNCLOS and related regimes) with applied maritime context, covering maritime zones and jurisdiction, navigation rights, enforcement and security, state responsibility, marine environmental cases, and dispute resolution (ADR/arbitration). Through structured lectures and case-based learning, graduates develop the ability to interpret legal regimes, assess jurisdictional questions, and apply international rules to real shipping and regulatory scenarios.
Objectives
-
Build a solid, professional understanding of the structure and sources of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS, customary law, key instruments).
-
Develop fluency in shipping terminology, documentation, and operational context relevant to legal analysis.
-
Explain maritime zones and coastal state jurisdiction (territorial sea, EEZ, continental shelf, high seas).
-
Apply navigation regimes (innocent passage, transit passage, archipelagic sea lanes) to real scenarios.
-
Examine enforcement and security regimes (piracy, hot pursuit, warships/nuclear ships) and related legal limits.
-
Analyse responsibility and compliance issues, including marine environmental protection and relevant case law.
-
Understand the regulation of ships (nationality, flag state duties, traffic separation schemes, safety governance).
-
Strengthen legal reasoning, case analysis, and professional communication for maritime stakeholders.
Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion, graduates will be able to:
-
Explain the structure, sources, and evolution of the Law of the Sea, including UNCLOS and key conventions.
-
Identify and apply the legal regimes of maritime zones and related jurisdictional competences.
-
Interpret navigation rights and restrictions in territorial seas, straits, archipelagos, EEZs, and the high seas.
-
Evaluate jurisdiction issues involving foreign vessels in ports and in international waters.
-
Analyse delimitation and boundary-related issues for continental shelves and maritime zones.
-
Apply enforcement concepts such as piracy and hot pursuit to operational maritime scenarios.
-
Assess flag state/coastal state responsibilities and compliance mechanisms under international maritime law.
-
Analyse marine environmental cases and legal duties related to protection and liability.
-
Understand and apply dispute resolution pathways (ADR, arbitration, UNCITRAL approaches) in maritime disputes.
-
Communicate legally sound conclusions and recommendations with professional clarity.
| 1. Introduction to Shipping |
|---|
| • Shipowning company's Departments & Maritime Jobs, Part 1 • Maritime Jobs, Part 2 • Nautical Terminology • Shipping Terminology, Ship's Tonnage |
| 2. Types of ships, Nationality of Ships, International Organizations |
|---|
| • Types of ships, Part 1 • Types of ships, Part 2. Ship’s demolition • Ships under flags of convenience • International Maritime Organization (IMO) and key conventions of the IMO |
| 3. Introduction to Marine Insurance, Chartering and Classification Societies |
|---|
| • The commonly used marine insurance terms • Contract of sales, Charter parties and Bills of lading • Cargo terminology, Cargo operation • Classification society and the International Safety Management code (ISM) |
| 4. The Development and Structure of the Law of the Sea |
|---|
| • Evolution of the Law of the Sea • Geneva Conventions 1958 and the Law of the Sea Convention 1982 • Maritime Zones and Coastal State Jurisdiction • Territorial Sea Regime and the Right of Innocent Passage |
| 5. Jurisdiction and Legal Regimes Beyond Territorial Seas |
|---|
| • International Straits and Transit Passage Regimes • Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf Regimes • Archipelagos under the Law of the Sea • The High Seas: Freedoms, Jurisdiction, and International Crimes |
| 6. Maritime Jurisdiction and Delimitation in International Waters |
|---|
| • Criminal Jurisdiction on foreign ships in ports • Delimitation of Continental Shelves • High Seas Cases • High Seas Routes through EEZ and Straits used for international Navigation |
| 7. Enforcement and Security Regimes under the Law of the Sea |
|---|
| • Piracy • Hot Pursuit • The Area • Innocent Passage of Warships and Nuclear ships |
| 8. International Commercial Justice and Dispute Resolution |
|---|
| • English Legal System • Alternative Disputes Resolution (ADR): Arbitration, Mediation • Ethics in Arbitration • United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), small Claims arbitration |
| 9. Regulation and Responsibility of Ships under International Maritime Law |
|---|
| • Nationality of Ships • Cases on the Marine Environment • Traffic Separation Schemes • Settlement of Disputes • Eumenides - The Supreme Court in Ancient Athens |
| 10-13. Dissertation |
|---|
| • 15,000 words |
Entry Requirements
Bachelor of Science (BSc) or other Higher Education degree, or experienced professionals.
English language: GCSE English Language grade 4/C – IB grade 4 Higher Level. If your first language is not English, you will need an IELTS of 6.0 overall, with 5.5 in each component, or a related certificate of English language course. Proficiency or Lower Certificate in English, or good writing and communication skills in English (at the discretion of the Committee).
Basic Information Technology skills.
No limits in education
Straightforward way of teaching
ONLINE
No need to attend physically in the class. You watch the lectures in video form, any time you would like and many times as you need. The speech of every video lecture is written in text form, by including the figures and the highlights of the lecture. You interact with the lecturers and tutors in electronic form.
Watch Videolectures
Assignment & Project
Final viva (live video)
Get your Degree awarded
Career - Maritime jobs explained
Academic staff consisting of professionals with a significant career at sea and generally in the shipping industry, being in collaboration with special academic personnel highly expert in business and the international maritime affairs. Below are the maritime jobs, that our courses prepare you.
SHIPOWNER'S OFFICE
Operation
Accounting
Chartering
Marine Insurance
Technical
Claims
Crew
ISM
Supply
AUTONOMOUS OFFICES
Charterers
Custom broker
Consignor
Receiver
Shipbroker
Sales and Purchase Broker
WORK IN EXECUTIVE MARITIME POSITIONS
Our students, regardless their professional origin and their academic level, acquire the necessary knowledge which gives them the opportunity to get an outstanding job position in shipping and rise to the highest levels of the maritime industry.
Admissions Office
99 Wall Street
Suite# 2838
New York, NY
10005, USA
Tel. +1 646 980 5595 (NY)
info@orion-university.com
Courses in Maritime
Master of Science
Bachelor
Professional Education
Career
Maritime jobs
Courses in Physics
Bachelor
Diploma HE
Certificate HE
Orion University OÜ, Pärnu Road 141, Harju, 11314, Tallinn, Estonia.
Registration No.: 17072956.
Copyright © Orion University 2026