Assessment Brief: Individual Essay
Module Code: MAR712
Module Title: International Maritime Law and Governance
Level: 7 (MSc)
Academic Year: 2025–2026
Assessment Type: Individual Essay
Weighting: 100% of module
Word Count: 3,000 words (±10%, excluding references and appendices)
Submission Deadline: 22 May 2026, 12:00 noon (via Turnitin on the VLE)
Learning Outcomes Assessed
- Critically appraise the structure and operation of international maritime regulatory frameworks.
- Evaluate legal and institutional barriers to effective implementation of IMO conventions in diverse national contexts.
- Analyse the interplay between global governance instruments and national legislative capacities.
- Demonstrate advanced academic writing and research skills in maritime law.
Assignment Title
Legal and Institutional Challenges in Implementing Maritime Safety Regulations in Developing States
Task
Write a 3,000-word critical essay examining the legal and institutional challenges faced by developing states in implementing international maritime safety regulations. Focus on key IMO instruments such as SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW, and the ISM Code, alongside the IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS).
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Identify principal barriers, including legislative gaps, limited institutional capacity, resource constraints, and political priorities. Draw on specific regional examples (e.g., West Africa, Pacific SIDS, or Southeast Asia) and discuss the effectiveness of IMO technical cooperation programmes. Evaluate proposals for overcoming these challenges, such as enhanced port state control, regional cooperation, or reformed audit processes.
Support your analysis with reference to primary legal sources (conventions, resolutions) and secondary academic literature. Conclude with reasoned recommendations for improving implementation in developing maritime administrations.
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Essay Structure (recommended)
- Introduction (including clear thesis statement)
- Overview of Key IMO Safety Instruments and Implementation Obligations
- Legal Challenges (e.g., incorporation into national law)
- Institutional and Capacity Challenges
- Case Studies or Regional Examples
- Role of IMO Support Mechanisms and Their Limitations
- Conclusions and Recommendations
- References (Harvard style)
Formatting and Submission Requirements
- Font: Arial or Times New Roman 12pt, 1.5 or double line spacing, justified text.
- Pages numbered, student ID in header.
- Submit as a single Word or PDF document via the VLE.
- Use Harvard referencing; minimum 15 high-quality sources expected at this level.
- Standard university late submission penalties apply.
Marking Rubric
| Criteria | Weight | 70–100% (Distinction) | 60–69% (Merit) | 50–59% (Pass) | 0–49% (Fail) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knowledge and Understanding of Maritime Law and IMO Frameworks | 30% | Outstanding depth and accuracy; sophisticated grasp of conventions and audit scheme. | Strong, accurate coverage with good depth. | Adequate knowledge with some gaps or minor errors. | Inaccurate or superficial understanding. |
| Critical Analysis of Challenges | 30% | Exceptional critical insight; original, nuanced evaluation of legal/institutional barriers. | Sound critical analysis with clear evaluation. | Descriptive rather than analytical; limited criticality. | Little or no critical engagement. |
| Use of Evidence, Examples, and Recommendations | 20% | Excellent integration of diverse sources, pertinent examples, and feasible recommendations. | Relevant evidence and realistic proposals. | Adequate sources; recommendations present but underdeveloped. | Poor or irrelevant evidence; weak recommendations. |
| Structure, Clarity, and Academic Writing | 10% | Professional, logical flow; eloquent and precise expression. | Well-structured and clearly written. | Acceptable structure; some clarity issues. | Poor organisation and expression. |
| Referencing and Academic Integrity | 10% | Impeccable Harvard style; extensive high-quality sources. | Accurate referencing; good range. | Mostly correct; sufficient sources. | Serious errors or plagiarism concerns. |
Sample Essay(Extract from Analysis Section)
Developing states encounter multifaceted obstacles when incorporating IMO safety conventions into domestic legislation. Legislative delays often arise from competing national priorities and limited drafting expertise. Institutional capacity remains constrained by inadequate training infrastructures and insufficient qualified personnel to conduct flag state inspections or port state control. Audits under the IMO Member State Audit Scheme consistently reveal non-conformities in areas such as enforcement mechanisms and delegation of authority (IMO, 2023, available at: https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/MSAS/Pages/IMSAS.aspx).
Resource shortages exacerbate these issues, particularly in least developed countries where maritime administrations receive minimal budgetary allocation. Regional disparities appear prominently in West Africa, where substandard shipping persists despite ratification of SOLAS and MARPOL. Technical cooperation programmes offer valuable assistance through workshops and model legislation, yet sustained follow-up proves limited. Enhanced regional memoranda of understanding on port state control have yielded improvements in some areas, though harmonisation remains incomplete.
Political will frequently determines implementation success, with corruption or industry influence undermining regulatory independence in certain jurisdictions. Proposals for differentiated responsibilities or extended compliance timelines warrant consideration, balanced against the universal nature of maritime safety obligations.
Bibliography Guide
- Alamoush, A.S., Ballini, F. and Ölçer, A.I. (2025) ‘Exploring the multifaceted challenges and complexities involved in the effective implementation of international maritime regulations’, Sustainability, 17(2), p. 478. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/su17020478.
- Deniece, A. (2023) ‘Contextual factors affecting implementation of IMO instruments’, PhD thesis, World Maritime University. Available at: https://commons.wmu.se/phd_dissertations/.
- George, R.E. (2023) ‘Combatting the marine litter crisis in the Windward Islands: challenges of implementation’, PhD thesis, World Maritime University. Available at: https://commons.wmu.se/phd_dissertations/.
- International Maritime Organization (IMO) (2023) IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS). London: IMO. Available at: https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/MSAS/Pages/IMSAS.aspx.
- Manuel, M.E. (2021) ‘Maritime governance and the human element: the role of the IMO in addressing implementation gaps’, Maritime Policy & Management, 48(5), pp. 612–629. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/03088839.2020.1825802. (adapted for relevance)