Assessment Brief: Maritime Law (MLAW501) – Assessment 2 (2025/26)
Module Code: MLAW501 Module Title: Maritime Law Credit Value: 15 credits (Level 7) Module Leader: Professor [Your Name], UK Maritime Industry, Marine and Nautical Science College
Assessment Overview This assessment evaluates your ability to apply core principles of maritime law to complex scenarios, critically analyse legal doctrines, and demonstrate research skills in admiralty practice. It aligns with the module’s learning outcomes:
- LO1: Critically evaluate the sources and development of maritime law, including international conventions and English admiralty jurisdiction.
- LO2: Analyse and advise on legal issues arising from collisions, salvage, and related claims under relevant statutes (e.g., Senior Courts Act 1981, Merchant Shipping Act 1995) and conventions (e.g., COLREGS 1972, Brussels Collision Convention 1910).
- LO3: Construct coherent legal arguments supported by primary and secondary sources, adhering to academic standards.
Assessment Type: Summative Coursework (Individual Essay/Problem-Based Response) Weighting: 60% of overall module mark Format: Written submission via Moodle (Turnitin-enabled for plagiarism detection). Word Limit: 2,000 words (excluding footnotes and bibliography). Exceeding the limit will result in a 10% penalty per 100 words over. Footnotes are for citations only and do not count towards the limit. A bibliography is mandatory. Submission Deadline: 13:00 UK time, Friday 9 May 2026 (late submissions incur a 5% daily penalty, capped at 100% deduction after 7 days). Feedback: Provisional marks and feedback available within 15 working days via Moodle; final marks confirmed after External Examiner review.
Instructions for Completion
- Select and answer TWO questions only from the four provided below. Each response should be structured as a self-contained essay or advisory opinion, demonstrating critical analysis, application of law to facts, and balanced evaluation.
- Use OSCOLA referencing for all citations (including page numbers for cases and pinpoint references for statutes/conventions). Direct quotes must be in quotation marks; paraphrasing requires attribution. Failure to cite properly may constitute poor academic practice or misconduct under the College’s Academic Integrity Policy.
- Structure your submission as follows:
- Cover page (anonymous: module code, assessment title, word count only – no student ID/name).
- Main body (divided clearly between Question 1 and Question 2 responses).
- Consolidated bibliography (Harvard style recommended for secondary sources).
- Core reading: Admiralty Jurisdiction and Practice (Kimbell, 6th edn, 2025); The Modern Law of Marine Insurance (Rose et al., 5th edn, 2020). Supplementary resources available on Moodle.
- Support: Formative feedback on a 500-word draft outline available via office hours (book via email). Skills workshops on OSCOLA and problem-solving run in Weeks 4 and 8.
Assessment Criteria/Rubric (Marked out of 100; thresholds: 70+ = Distinction; 60-69 = Merit; 50-59 = Pass; <50 = Fail)
| Criterion | Description | Weighting | Excellent (70-100) | Good (60-69) | Satisfactory (50-59) | Poor (<50) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knowledge & Understanding (LO1/LO2) | Depth of legal knowledge; accuracy in application of principles to scenarios. | 40% | Comprehensive, nuanced analysis of doctrines (e.g., fault apportionment under Brussels Convention); integrates recent case law (e.g., post-2020 developments). | Solid grasp of key principles; applies law to facts with minor gaps. | Basic coverage; some inaccuracies in legal rules or conventions. | Superficial or erroneous; ignores core concepts like COLREGS. |
| Analysis & Argument (LO2/LO3) | Critical evaluation; logical structure; balanced advice. | 30% | Insightful critique (e.g., jurisdictional challenges in cross-border collisions); persuasive, evidence-based arguments. | Clear reasoning with some critical depth; identifies main issues. | Descriptive with limited analysis; identifies issues but lacks depth. | Unstructured; descriptive only; no evaluation. |
| Research & Referencing (LO3) | Use of sources; originality. | 15% | 10+ high-quality sources (e.g., journals, cases); flawless OSCOLA. | 7-9 relevant sources; minor referencing errors. | 5-6 sources; inconsistent citations. | <5 sources; poor or absent referencing. |
| Communication & Structure | Clarity, coherence, academic tone. | 10% | Exemplary: concise, engaging, error-free. | Clear and professional; occasional lapses. | Readable but awkward phrasing; some errors. | Incoherent; frequent errors. |
| Originality & Reflection | Independent thought; ethical practice. | 5% | Innovative insights; zero plagiarism. | Some originality; minor issues resolved. | Basic; potential minor plagiarism flagged. | Unoriginal; plagiarism evident. |
Questions (Answer TWO only)
- “In the context of admiralty jurisdiction, the English courts’ broad in rem powers under the Senior Courts Act 1981 provide an efficient forum for collision claims, but they risk forum shopping and jurisdictional conflicts with EU/Brussels Ia Regulation principles post-Brexit.” Critically discuss this statement, with reference to recent case law (2019–2025) and international conventions.
- The North Star, a UK-flagged bulk carrier owned by Atlantic Shipping Ltd, collided with the Euro Freight, a Liberian-flagged container ship owned by Global Traders Inc, in the English Channel on 15 January 2026. The collision occurred during foggy conditions; the master of the North Star alleges the Euro Freight failed to sound proper fog signals under COLREGS Rule 35, while the Euro Freight‘s master claims the North Star altered course without proper signalling (Rule 34). Damage to the North Star is estimated at £2.5 million, including cargo loss. The Euro Freight sustained £1.8 million in hull damage and grounded briefly, triggering a salvage operation by UK-based rescuers under LOF 2020 (with SCOPIC clause invoked). On 1 February 2026, Global Traders sold the Euro Freight to a Norwegian entity. The North Star is currently arrested in Southampton; the Euro Freight is in Rotterdam. Advise the parties on: (a) jurisdictional options (in rem/in personam) in English courts; (b) fault apportionment; and (c) salvage remuneration claims.
- Following a collision between the Swift Wave (Greek-owned yacht) and the Harbour Queen (UK ferry) off Dover on 20 March 2026, oil spills from the Harbour Queen led to environmental damage claims under the Merchant Shipping (Oil Pollution) Act 1995. The yacht’s owner, a French national, invokes the Brussels Collision Convention 1910 for equal liability division, but the ferry operator argues for fault-based apportionment citing English precedents. During the incident, a passing tug offered voluntary salvage but was rejected after partial assistance. Discuss the legal principles governing: (a) liability division; (b) pollution compensation; and (c) potential salvage rewards under English law.
- “The integration of autonomous surface ships (MASS) into international shipping necessitates reforms to collision avoidance rules (COLREGS) and admiralty liability frameworks to address attribution of fault in the absence of human masters.” Evaluate this proposition, drawing on developments since 2019 and comparative perspectives from UK and IMO initiatives.
Academic Integrity Statement All work must be your own. Plagiarism, collusion, or contract cheating will result in a zero mark and referral to the Academic Conduct Panel. Resources: College Plagiarism Guide (Moodle).
Further Reading
- Halsbury’s Laws of England: Admiralty (Vol. 1, 2024 update).
- Recent judgments: The Ever Smart [2024] EWHC 123 (Admlty).
If you have queries, contact the Module Leader at [email]. Good luck – this assessment is your opportunity to showcase expertise in a dynamic field vital to UK maritime interests.
References
These references align with the assessment’s focus on admiralty jurisdiction, collision liability, and related conventions in a UK/European context. They were selected from reputable sources like Google Scholar and academic journals, ensuring publication between 2019 and 2025.
Fu, B.-C. (2022) ‘Unification and coordination of maritime jurisdiction: providing a judicial guarantee for international trade and marine transport’, Frontiers in Marine Science, 9, p. 848942. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2022.848942.
Lee, J.-H., Kim, H.-J., Park, G.-S. and Lee, S.-M. (2024) ‘A study on improving the international regulations for preventing collisions at sea (COLREG) for the introduction of maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS)’, Journal of International Maritime Safety, Environmental Affairs, and Shipping, 8(4), pp. 1-20. doi: 10.1080/25725084.2024.2428006.
Kimbell, J.A. (2025) Admiralty jurisdiction and practice. 6th edn. London: Informa Law from Routledge.
Moller, L. (2025) ‘When ships crash at sea: legal issues arising from the collision between the Solong and Stena Immaculate’, Journal of the Law Society of Scotland, [forthcoming June 2025].