module specification

The module examines rights and obligations arising when goods are carried by sea, focusing on charterparties.

The module covers the following themes: formation, types of carriage contracts and interpretation of their terms; seaworthiness; reasonable dispatch, deviation, safe ports.

Specific attention is devoted to time-charterparties including the following elements: early and late redelivery of the vessel, the obligation of the charterer to pay hire, withdrawal of the ship by the owner, off hire clauses, deductions from hire.

Voyage charterparties are also examined in depth, with emphasis on the following subjects: freight, beginning of laytime, the question of when a ship is an “arrived ship”, notice of readiness, demurrage and the right to terminate.

MODULE AIMS

• The aim of this module is for students to be able to:
• learn about the most common contracts of carriage of goods by sea and the legal relationships stemming from them.
• learn about the formation of charterparties, their terms and their interpretation
• understand the rights and obligations of owners and charterers in voyage and time charterparties through case law and examples, so that they can advise clients with their charterparty disputes.
• develop their ability to apply knowledge through a series of practical exercises.
• develop their ability to construct legal arguments.

No pre-requisites. Not available for Study Abroad.

1. Contracts of carriage of goods by sea
2. Charterparties and their types
3. Formation of the contract
4. Time-charterparties in focus: rights and obligations of shipowners and charterers.
5. Voyage charterparties in focus: rights and obligations of shipowners and charterers.

Overview

Students will be taught by a combination of online lectures, interactive online seminars, one-to-one supervision, and self-study of a comprehensive module, with students encouraged to read from specified case law and legal journals. Students will be given the opportunity to discuss theoretical issues as well as practical problem solving.  Students will be supported in undertaking on-line research using electronic law databases and encouraged to use on line legal resources on a regular basis. There is a virtual learning environment containing handbooks, lecture notes, weblinks, discussion groups, study skills materials and assessment criteria. 

Experiential Learning

Students will be encouraged to respond to realistic case-studies relating to the sector, giving written legal opinions to clients in the style of a professional legal advisor. As an alternative core for the LLM award, students will be able to undertake and experiential learning project. Students will also be able to participate in the extracurricular experiential learning offered within the Law School, including the Pro Bono Clinic and the Mooting Club.

Study Support

Students will have regular access to module tutors by email and by one-to-one video conferences to support their studies. They will also engage with one formative assessment for each module, which will be marked promptly with opportunities for feedback either by email or individual online discussion.

On successful completion of the module, you will be able to do the following:

1. Comprehend and manage a substantial body of legal knowledge focused on carriage of goods by sea.
2. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the key rights and obligations stemming from charterparties.
3. Evaluate the differences between rights and obligations of parties to voyage and time charterparties.
4. Research and manage legal information from paper and IT resources and present competent legal arguments in writing.
5. Understand and present conflicting arguments and apply the law to problem scenarios relevant to all aspects of the law on carriage of goods by sea.

The module adopts the assessment strategy principles of GSBL which have been developed in the spirit of ESJ. These are:

1. The School is committed to ensuring that each student should not have more no more than 2 assessment points per 20 credit module.
2. We provide balanced forms of assessment, both in terms of its overall volume (measured in terms of assessment points and output required and the types used.
3. Group activities are part of the learning and teaching strategies but assessment is at the level of the individual. Thus, assessment focused on individual reflections and learning from participating in a group activity.
4. Flexibility/choice in assessment methods will be introduced wherever possible in order to facilitate different learning studies and support personalization

Assessment of the module will be by way of coursework, giving a choice of either a critical analysis of contemporary issues and/or experiential employment-related practical exercises.

In line with our policy on facilitating formative feedback to students, the assessment strategy is designed to provide formative feedback on a piece of contributing summary assessment before another summative component is due to be submitted.

https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/74F229B8-54BC-FA2D-6C4E-7AD3429F2869.html?lang=en-US&login=1