Assessment Brief: MARL702 — Carriage of Goods by Sea Law (2025)
Module: Carriage of Goods by Sea Law
Level: 7 (Postgraduate)
Weighting: 50% of module grade
Submission: Turnitin via Moodle, Due: 8 April 2025, 23:59 (UK time)
Word Count: 3,000 words (±10%)
Type: Individual written assignment (Research-based analysis)
Learning Outcomes Assessed:
- Critically evaluate the role and interpretation of key international conventions governing carriage of goods by sea.
- Demonstrate an understanding of rights, liabilities, and obligations under common law and statutory regimes.
- Apply legal reasoning to contemporary disputes in maritime transport contracts.
- Engage with current legal scholarship and international maritime case law.
Assessment Task
“Critically assess the continuing relevance of the Hague-Visby Rules in governing carriage of goods by sea, considering modern commercial realities and the potential for reform under the Rotterdam Rules.”
Your analysis should include:
- A critical review of the historical development of the Hague, Hague-Visby, Hamburg, and Rotterdam Rules.
- Discussion of carrier liability regimes and shipper obligations under contemporary contracts of carriage (e.g., bills of lading, charterparties).
- Evaluation of current judicial interpretations in UK and international case law.
- Consideration of electronic documentation, digital bills of lading, and emerging regulatory challenges.
- Recommendations for how maritime law should adapt to technological and sustainability trends.
Assessment Criteria:
| Criterion | Weight | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Depth of Legal Analysis | 30% | Demonstrates mastery of relevant statutes, conventions, and case law. |
| Critical Evaluation | 25% | Engages with opposing scholarly perspectives and identifies limitations. |
| Research Quality | 20% | Integrates at least 10 credible, peer-reviewed academic or legal sources. |
| Structure & Argumentation | 15% | Logical, coherent, and well-supported argument flow. |
| Presentation & Referencing | 10% | Professional structure and accurate Harvard referencing. |
Submission Guidance
- Include a title page with your student number and module code.
- Use Harvard referencing throughout.
- Maintain academic tone and avoid descriptive narration.
- Late submissions capped at 50% (per university policy).
References
- Baatz, Y. (2023). The Carriage of Goods by Sea. 4th ed. Routledge.
- Goldby, M. and Mistelis, L. (2021). Electronic Documents in Maritime Trade: Law and Practice. Routledge.
- Girvin, S. D. (2020). Carriage of Goods by Sea. 4th ed. Oxford University Press.
- Tsimplis, M. N. (2019). “The Rotterdam Rules: Progress or Regress?” Journal of Maritime Law and Commerce, 50(3), pp. 371–400.
- Wang, H. (2022). “Digitalisation and Legal Challenges in Bills of Lading.” Lloyd’s Maritime and Commercial Law Quarterly, (1), pp. 25–47.