MASTER OF LAWS (LL.M.) IN MARITIME LAW & MASTER OF ARTS (M.A.) IN MARITIME LAW
MARITIME LAW (LL.M. & M.A.)
This course introduces students to the historical development of Maritime Law; characteristics of maritime law and its features; the place of Maritime Law in the development of public international law and the legal environment of the shipping industry. Matters to be covered include Maritime Law Jurisdiction, Ship Legal Personality, Ownership, Registration and Nationality of Vessels, Collision, Salvage, Marine Insurance, Pilotage and Towage, General Averages, Vessel-source Pollution and Compensation Claims, Port State Control, legal regimes governing the transportation of goods by sea, carriage of goods by charterparties and carriage of goods under Bills of Lading and such similar documents under various rules governing the carriage of goods by sea, The Hague Convention; Hague/Visby Convention; Hamburg and Rotterdam Rules relating the obligation of shipowners, shippers and charterers, Application of Rules, Exclusion of Rules, the Carrier’s Duties; Carrier’s Defences; Responsibilities of Cargo Owner or Shipper, Freight, Limitation of Liability, Marine Insurance, Admiralty, Maritime Safety, Security, and sustainable use of Marine resources.
PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES
To help answer the need to facilitate economic growth, the University of Ghana School of Law’s M.A./LL.M. Maritime Law programme adopts both top-down and bottom-up approaches to train public and private sector leadership and managerial staff with the objectives to:
1. Develop enhanced skills, knowledge and understanding of practical aspects of maritime law.
2. Further improve capacity to apply commercial awareness and legal principles and rules impacting on international shipping.
3. Develop skills in analysing contemporary legal scholarship in maritime law.
4. Acquire advanced skills in decision making on maritime law matters.
5. Further enhance capacity in using research and legal principles to ensure the effective private use of marine resources
COURSE DURATION
One (1) Academic Year
Venue: University of Ghana – Accra City Campus, Adabraka.
Format: Hybrid (in-person and online lectures)
Time:
- Mondays – Thursdays: 5:00pm – 8:00pm
- Fridays 3:00pm – 8:00pm
Fees:
- GHS 22,355.00 (Ghanaians)
- USD 9,178.00 (Non-Ghanaians)
- GHS 2,445.00 (Admission Processing Fees)
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
• First degree from a recognized university.
• Shortlisting/Interview.
• M.A. – proven interest, exposure or experience in the maritime industry (prior knowledge in law not required).
• LL.M. – degree in law (prior maritime industry knowledge is required).
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE:
The two-semester programme comprises lectures, seminars, field visits, job fairs and dissertation. There are core, required and elective courses. Continuous assessment shall be the main mode of examination. Students are therefore expected to actively participate in topical seminars and make innovative contributions on legal and non-legal approaches to policy and regulation of technologies within their own contexts. Research works leading to dissertations and papers are expected to be selected according to student interests and of practical benefit to student-chosen institutions. Industry practitioners shall facilitate seminars and job fairs to increase student exposure to the job market and industry needs.
PROGRAMME CONTENT
The M.A./LL.M. MARITIME Law programme includes the following core courses:
Introduction to Shipping Law -- Origin and development of Maritime Law, Maritime Law in the development of public international law, general characteristics of Maritime Law and its features; and legal environment of the shipping industry. Maritime Law Jurisdiction, Ship Legal Personality, Ownership, Registration and Nationality of Vessels, Collision, Salvage, Marine Insurance, Pilotage and Towage, General Averages, Vessel-source Pollution and Compensation Claims, Port State Control
Carriage of Goods by Sea -- transportation of goods by sea, carriage of goods by charterparties, carriage of goods under Bills of Lading, The Hague Convention; Hague/Visby Convention; Hamburg and Rotterdam Rules relating the obligation of shipowners, shippers and charterers, Application of Rules, Exclusion of Rules, the Carrier’s Duties; Carrier’s Defences; Responsibilities of Cargo Owner or Shipper, Freight, Limitation of Liability
Maritime Security and the Law of the Sea -- The Gulf of Guinea has become notorious for piracy and ship hijacking. Similar threats to navigation on the seas persist around the world. Threats to international maritime security include maritime piracy and ship hijacking, terrorism on the sea, smuggling of illicit cargo, human trafficking and maritime militia. This course will explore the international law regime for regulation of security at sea as well as the international law of the sea aspects of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Conceptualizing Maritime Security: Is There a Common Understanding of Maritime Security? Historical Development of Modern International Rules on Maritime Security, Varieties of Transnational Crime in the Maritime Domain; UN Measures to Combat Piracy, IMO Measures to Combat Piracy, The Human Dimension: Stowaways, Human Smuggling and Human Trafficking, International Cooperation and Approaches to Maritime Security, Interaction Between Maritime Security and National Security, Privatization of Maritime Security, Cyber Terrorism.
Law of Marine Insurance -- The Law of Marine Insurance is an ancient area of law and a vital part of international commerce. The Law of Marine Insurance is an intellectually challenging area of law with great practical commercial significance as many shipping contracts involve marine insurance. In this course, students will examine the origins of the Law of Marine Insurance and the nuances of marine insurance and reinsurance principles under common law, The Contract of Marine Insurance, The Doctrine of Utmost Good Faith and Insurance Contracts, The Terms of Marine Insurance Contract; Risks; and Causation; Indemnity, Subrogation and Contribution, Current Trends in Shipping and Implications for Law of Marine Insurance.
Contact Details:
Website: https://law.ug.edu.gh
Email: lawschool@ug.edu.gh
Phone Numbers: +233 (0) 30 396 3750 / +233 (0) 30 395 8555