Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2026 (23/02/2026 - 20/06/2026)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Law School
The international shipping industry is the life blood of the global economy responsible for the carriage of around 90% of world trade. This course examines the international regulation of ships from registration and flag state regulation to port state control and the enforcement of admiralty actions. These include a broad range of maritime legal issues, such as liabilities arising from incidents such as collisions at sea, salvage, wreck and marine pollution liability. All these areas of maritime law are covered by International Conventions, adopted for the most part through the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). As such, this course will suite both Australian and overseas students, and while some aspects of Australian domestic law are considered, the fundamental principles underpinning that law is transferable to almost any jurisdiction in the world. This is particularly so when covering the enforcement of maritime claims which address maritime liens, in rem actions and arrest of ships. For a comprehensive coverage of international maritime law, this course should be taken together with LAWS7876 International Maritime Trade Law.
Over 90% of Australian trade is transported by sea and the law governing the ships that facilitate this trade is of great commercial importance. International Admiralty and Maritime Law concerns issues such as the ownership and flagging of ships, salvage and wreck law, and liabilities arising from incidents such as collisions at sea and marine pollution. It also covers the enforcement of maritime claims, including arrest of ships, jurisdiction, and securities, such as maritime liens.ﾠ
International Admiralty and Maritime Law is a blend of general principles of contract and tort law, specialised maritime laws arising out of the ancient law merchant, international conventions, customary international law and domestic (both Commonwealth and State) law. Consideration is therefore also given to jurisdictional issues, including an introduction to the international maritime zones and a more detailed consideration of the jurisdictional competencies of flag and port States.
The international nature of shipping, and the international legal structure underpinning it, means that shipping law throughout the world is similar and skills acquired in one jurisdiction are readily transferable to another. The course is therefore of particular interest to students who wish to pursue an international career in either the private or government sectors or in international trade.
Course requirements
Restrictions
LLM(#16), LLM(#24), MICLaw
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
Education Mission Statement
The mission of the School of Law is to educate you in and about the law. We seek to assist you to think critically about the law and to investigate its structures, principles, policies, and values. This is achieved by engaging with you as fellow investigators in a range of critical and intellectual conversations about the law and its place in society. Our role is thus to guide you in your own intellectual journey in the law and to equip you with the necessary skills that will enable you to continue that journey long after you have left the School.
Course Aims
Maritime Law aims to give you a thorough knowledge and understanding of the main principles of law that apply to maritime claims and liabilities and their enforcement.ﾠﾠIt also aims to provide you with experience in dealing with legal principles of an international and national character derived from a range of legal instruments, including international conventions, customary international law, internationally used standard form contracts, domestic (both Commonwealth and State) legislation and case law.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
understand and critically evaluate the fundamental principles underpinning maritime law;
LO2.
understand and critically evaluate some of the major components of maritime law and dispute resolution in maritime law;
LO3.
understand and critically evaluate the main principles governing the enforcement of liabilities arising from maritime claims; and
LO4.
demonstrate an ability to apply critical reasoning and independent research and judgement in an area of maritime law.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
Short Answer Take Home assessment
|
40% |
20/05/2026 2:00 pm |
| Examination |
End-of-semester Examination
|
60% |
End of Semester Exam Period 6/06/2026 - 20/06/2026 |
Assessment details
Short Answer Take Home assessment
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
20/05/2026 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
The Short Answer Take Home Assessment will require short (one or two paragraphs) to questions that cover the substantive course content.
The completed assessment must be no longer than 3,000 words, excluding footnotes (where footnotes consist of nothing more than the citation of primary or secondary resources). Explanatory text in the footnotes may be counted in the total word count. Words in excess of the limit will not be read.
Where material exceeds the prescribed word length the excess material will be ignored for assessment purposes.
Students must not collaborate nor discuss the assessment with others, including by sharing notes with or showing drafts to other students.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Submission guidelines
Assessment must be submitted as a word doc using the Turnitin link under the assessment tab.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Extension to Assessment Due Date
The maximum extension for an assessment item due within the semester / teaching period in which the course is offered is 7 days. In exceptional circumstances, an extension may be approved for a further 7 days. Where a student is incapacitated for a period longer than 14 days, they are advised to apply for removal of course.
A student may apply for an extension to assessment due date if they are unable to meet an assessment deadline due to extenuating circumstances. Please refer to the Applying for an extension page on my.UQ for further details on acceptable reasons for an extension and for instructions on how to apply. Additional information on extensions can be found within the Assessment Procedure.
Spoken or written notification of difficulties with assessment deadlines to a course coordinator or the School does not constitute an authorised extension.
A request for an extension to an assessment due date must be submitted through my.UQ as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed, but no later than one calendar day after the assessment task submission due date and time. Requests for extensions received after the application due date and time, must include evidence of the reason for the late request, and will require the decision maker listed in the Decision-Maker Tables in the Student Grievance Resolution Procedure to determine whether to accept the request for consideration.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Penalties for Late Submission
The following penalties apply to late submission of an assessment item, assuming that an extension has not been approved, and that late submission is academically possible (e.g., it does not delay feedback to a cohort, or interfere with course delivery).
First 7 periods of 24 hours (or part thereof) - 10% per 24 hours of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item. For example, a report worth a maximum of 40 marks, submitted 28 hours late will attract a penalty of 8 marks, calculated as 2 periods of 24 hours x 10% x 40 marks.
More than 7 periods of 24 hours - 100%.
End-of-semester Examination
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 60%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
6/06/2026 - 20/06/2026
- Other conditions
- Time limited, Secure.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
The end-of-semester exam will assess all material covered in the course. Any written or printed material is permitted in the exam; it may also be annotated.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Calculator options | Any calculator permitted |
| Open/closed book | Open book examination - any written or printed material is permitted; material may be annotated |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 19 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 20 - 47 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 48 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 3 To Week 10 |
Seminar |
Seminars There will be eight 3-hour seminars that cover the following topics:
Further details will be provided in the Course Learning Guide available on the Course Blackboard site. Seminars are not recorded. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
- AI for Assessment Guide
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
School guidelines
Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course: