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Maritime Business and Companies

Code: 42997
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Enterprise Law OP 1

Contact lecturer

Name :
Isidro Galobart Regas
Email :
isidro.galobart@uab.cat

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

There are no previous requirements.

Objectives

To achieve pecialized knowledge on issues related to the maritime business.

Learning outcomes

  • CA15 (Design appropriate legal strategies for the management of maritime business activities, applying national, European and international regulations and practices.) Design appropriate legal strategies for the management of maritime business activities, applying national, European and international regulations and practices.
  • CA16 (Formulate legal solutions for the social, economic and environmental challenges of maritime operators and coastal and flag states in complex professional contexts.) Formulate legal solutions for the social, economic and environmental challenges of maritime operators and coastal and flag states in complex professional contexts.
  • KA21 (Interpret the regulatory framework of maritime law: subjects, contracts and accidents.) Interpret the regulatory framework of maritime law: subjects, contracts and accidents.
  • KA22 (Apply the national and international legal framework to maritime contracting and liability.) Apply the national and international legal framework to maritime contracting and liability.
  • SA22 (Interpret the legal regime for shipping companies and the main contracts of maritime law.) Interpret the legal regime for shipping companies and the main contracts of maritime law.
  • SA23 (Apply legal principles and negotiation techniques to the resolution of legal disputes in the maritime field.) Apply legal principles and negotiation techniques to the resolution of legal disputes in the maritime field.

Contents

The module analyzes some specific issues of maritime Law, such as the figure of the shipowner (legal nature, limitation of liability), its dependents, the maritime contracts (chartering, bareboat charter, passengers), accidents at navigation (collision, average, pollution), from the perspective of national, European and international law, as well as the practice and uses of the sea.Any changes will be communicated at the beginning of the course.


SUBJECT I SHIPPING COMPANIES AND OTHER SUBJECTS OF NAVIGATION AND MARITIME TRAFFIC.

 

1.- THE SHIPPING COMPANY.

2.- SHIPPING AUXILIARIES.

2.1.- INDEPENDENT AUXILIARIES.

2.1.1.- The Consignee Agent Vessels. 

2.1.2.- The Freight Forwarder/Logistic Operator.

 2.1.3.- The Customs Agent/Authorised Economic Operator.

2.1.4.- The Pilotage Service.

2.1.5.- The Port Handling Contract.

2.2.- ANCILLARY SERVICES DEPENDENT ON THE

SHIPPING COMPANY.

2.2.1.- Shore Attendants.

2.2.2.2.- Dependants on board the ship, the ship's crew :

2.2.2.1.- The Master of the ship.

2.2.2.2.2.- Officers.

2.2.2.3.- Subalterns.

 

SUBJECT II.- MARITIME SPACES.

 

1.- THE EVOLUTION OF THE LAW OF THE SEA.

2.- UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA: MARITIME SPACES. 3.

3.- INTERNAL WATERS.

4.- TERRITORIAL SEA/CONTIGUOUS ZONE.

5.- EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE.

6.- CONTINENTAL SHELF.

7.- THE HIGH SEAS.

8.- THE ZONE.

 

SUBJECT III.- THE SHIP, NATIONALITY OF SHIPS, MARITIME REGISTERS.

 

1.-NATIONALITY OF SHIPS.

2.-CLASSICAL REGISTERS/OPEN REGISTERS. 3.

3.-OPEN REGISTERS/ FLAG OF CONVENIENCE. 4.

4.-OFF-SHORE REGISTERS.

5.-SECOND REGISTERS.

6.-PORT STATE CONTROL. 

 

SUBJECT IV.-MARITIME  CONTRACTS .

 

1.- MARITIME CONTRACTS.

1.1.- THE SHIP CHARTERING CONTRACT.

1.2.- THE CONTRACT OF AFFREIGHTMENT. 1.2.1.

1.2.1.- THE TIME CHARTERPARTY. 1.2.2.

1.2.2.2.- THE VOYAGE CHARTER-PARTY.

2.- THE CONTRACT OF CARRIAGE BY SEA.

2.1.-BILLS OF LADING.

2.2.-INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS, THE HAGUE/VISBY RULES. 2.3.

2.3.-THE ROTTERDAM CONVENTION.

 


SUBJECT V.- MARITIME INSURANCE.

 

1.- INSTITUTIONS OF MARITIME INSURANCE.

1.1.- ABANDONMENT.

1.2.- GENERAL AVERAGE,

2.- HULL AND MACHINERY INSURANCE CONTRACT. 

3.- THE CONTRACT OF INSURANCE OF MERCHANDISE.

4.- CIVIL LIABILITY INSURANCE (P&I CLUB).

 

SUBJECT VI MARITIME PROCEDURES.

 

1.- PRIVILEGED MARITIME CREDITS.

2.- THE PREVENTIVE SEIZURE OF SHIPS.

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Resolution of exercises 10 0.4 CA16, KA21, KA22, SA22
Personal study 54 2.16 CA15, CA16, KA21, KA22, SA22, SA23
Classroom lectures 36 1.44 SA22, SA23

Lecturers responsible for each group will plan at the beginning of the course the theoretical sessions and the most practical sessions where discussion seminars, practical cases, comments, text, etc. will be developed.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Attendace and active participation in class 40% 36 1.44 CA15, CA16, KA21, KA22, SA22, SA23
Resolution of exercises 60% 14 0.56 CA16, KA22, SA23

The evaluation of the subject will be carried out by means of a final test on the set of the syllabus of the subject at the end of the course (50% grade) and the different practices that will be carried out throughout the course (50% of the grade).

Once the evaluation has been communicated, a review may be requested so that the Professor explains to the student the applied criteria (art. 114.3 UAB academic regulations), without prejudice to the student's rights to challenge the grade.

The date of the final exam of the subject is scheduled in the exam calendar of the Faculty.

The scheduling of the evaluation tests cannot be modified, unless there is an exceptional and duly justified reason why an evaluation act cannot be carried out. In this case, the people responsible for the degrees, after consulting the teachers and the affected students, will propose a new schedule within the corresponding school period (art. 115.1 Calendar of evaluation activities, UAB Academic Regulations)

To pass the course, the student must have participated in the three evaluation activities and have obtained at least a 3.5 in the final exam. To take the final exam, it is necessary to prove attendance to 90% of the classes.

Only the reevaluation of the test is possible (50%). The continuous assessment activities cannot be reevaluated, since their meaning is to check the knowledge progressively acquired throughout the course, notwithstanding that in case of illness or other eventualities an alternative solution may be found for the specifically affected student.

To retake the exam, student must have obtained at least a 3 in each of the three evaluation activities. Students who take the reevaluation exam may obtain a maximum grade of 7 in the subject.

It will be considered that a student who participates in any of the continuous evaluation activities will no longer be eligible for a “non-evaluable” status.

This subject/module does not provide for a single evaluation system.

AI Usage Policy: For this module, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted exclusively for activities specified by the teaching staff. Students must clearly identify which parts were generated using this technology, specify the tools employed, and include a critical reflection on how these tools influenced the process and the final outcome of the activity. Failure to be transparent about the use of AI in this assessable activity will be considered a lack of academic honesty and may result in a partial or total grade penalty, or more severe sanctions in serious cases.

Committing any irregularity during an assessment activity (academic fraud, plagiarism, or the improper use of AI—unless such use is expressly authorized in the course syllabus) that could lead to a significant change in the grade will result in that activity being graded as a 0. If multiple irregularities occur across assessment activities for the same course, the final grade for that course will be 0. Furthermore, disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against any student who commits such irregularities.

Bibliography

GABALDÓN GARCÍA, José Luis: Curso de derecho marítimo internacional. Derecho marítimo internacional público y privado y contratos marítimos internacionales, Marcial Pons, Barcelona-Madrid-Buenos Aires, 2012.

GABALDÓN GARCÍA, José Luis y RUIZ SOROA, José María: Manual de Derecho de la navegación marítima, 3ª edición, Marcial Pons, Barcelona-Madrid, 2006.

GIRGADO, Pablo, “Los seguros marítimos y la valoración convencional del interés asegurado”, en GARCÍA-PITA, Estudios de derecho marítimo, Aranzadi, Cizur Menor, pp. 1015-1034.

MARTÍN OSANTE, José Manuel, “Responsabilidad del naviero en vía civil y en vía penal: algunas diferencias”, en La Ley, núm. 1, 2005, pp. 191-201.

PULIDO BEGINES, Juan Luis: Instituciones de Derecho de la navegación marítima, Tecnos, Madrid, 2009.

PULIDO BEGINES, Juan Luis: Curso de Derecho de la navegación marítima, Tecnos, Madrid, 2015.

RUIZ SOROA, José María, “Los créditos marítimos privilegiados y el concurso de acreedores”, en Revista de Derecho concursal y paraconcursal, núm. 6, 2007, pp. 119-130.

SALINAS ADELANTADO, Carlos, Curso de Derecho Marítimo, Tirant lo Blanch, Valencia, 2021.

Software

The subject does not require any specific software.

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TEm) Theory (master) 1 Spanish second semester afternoon