Module MLA708: Maritime Strategy & Policy — Gulf of Guinea and South China Sea Case Study
1. Assessment Brief & Metadata
- Module Code: MLA708
- Module Title: Maritime Strategy & Policy
- Academic Year: 2025/2026
- Assessment Task: Assessment 2 (Technical Investigative Report)
- Word Count: 2,500 words (+/- 10%)
- Weighting: 60% of total module grade
- Submission Method: Digital upload via the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)
2. Context & Rationale
Global maritime operations are increasingly dictated by regional geopolitical tensions and the enforcement of localized security frameworks. In the Gulf of Guinea, Nigeria’s “Deep Blue Project” represents a massive shift in sovereign maritime security, aiming to quell piracy that has historically hampered West African logistics. Simultaneously, the South China Sea remains a high-friction zone where port operations and freedom of navigation (FONOPs) are challenged by territorial claims and the rapid expansion of Chinese port infrastructure under the “Maritime Silk Road.” This assessment requires you to critically evaluate how these regional dynamics influence global shipping efficiency and maritime policy.
3. Task Description
You are required to produce a 2,500-word investigative report that compares the operational risks and policy responses in two distinct maritime hubs: Lagos/Onne (Nigeria) and the Spratly/Paracel Islands transit corridors (South China Sea). Your analysis must focus on the impact of insecurity and geopolitical disputes on commercial vessel operations.
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Your report must be structured using the following specific headings:
Section 1: Security Frameworks & Piracy (Nigeria Case Study)
Analyze the effectiveness of the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act 2019 and the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure (Deep Blue Project). Discuss how these initiatives have affected insurance premiums (War Risk Surcharges) for vessels calling at Nigerian ports.
Section 2: Territorial Disputes & Navigation (South China Sea Case Study)
Evaluate the operational challenges for merchant vessels navigating the “Nine-Dash Line.” Discuss the role of Marine Scientific Research (MSR) as a tool for “grey-zone” diplomacy and its impact on the safety of international shipping lanes. Analyze how port state control and regional maritime law (UNCLOS) are being interpreted by littoral states in Southeast Asia.
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Section 3: Logistics & Port Efficiency Analysis
Compare the “bureaucratic bottlenecks” in Nigerian port concessions with the high-efficiency, technology-driven operations of China-backed ports in Southeast Asia (e.g., Kuantan or Melaka Gateway). Use Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as vessel turnaround time and berth productivity to support your comparison.
Section 4: Strategic Policy Recommendations
Propose three policy interventions for an international shipping company to mitigate risks when operating in these two regions. Your recommendations must consider both legal compliance and physical vessel hardening.
4. Assessment Criteria & Scoring Rubric
| Criteria | Weight | Excellent (70%+) | Satisfactory (50-69%) | Poor (<40%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Critical Analysis of Security Policy | 35% | Nuanced understanding of SPOMO and Deep Blue Project; excellent integration of maritime law. | Good description of security measures but lacks deep critical evaluation of their on-ground impact. | Purely descriptive; fails to link policy to operational outcomes. |
| Geopolitical Competence | 35% | Sophisticated analysis of the South China Sea disputes and their specific impact on commercial logistics. | Accurate identification of the main actors and disputes; moderate link to shipping operations. | Major inaccuracies regarding regional geography or UNCLOS applications. |
| Research & Evidence Base | 20% | Extensive use of peer-reviewed journals, UNCTAD reports, and GISIS data. | Uses recommended reading; bibliography is mostly accurate. | Reliance on non-credible sources or insufficient referencing. |
| Professional Presentation | 10% | Impeccable report structure; professional tone; clear diagrams/tables. | Standard structure; some minor formatting issues. | Disorganized; significant errors in grammar or terminology. |
5. Sample Answer Snippet
The decline of piracy in Nigerian waters is largely attributed to the professionalization of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the legislative teeth provided by the SPOMO Act of 2019. This domestic legal framework has enabled the first successful prosecutions of maritime criminals in the Gulf of Guinea, thereby shifting the risk-reward calculus for pirate syndicates operating from the Niger Delta. However, despite these security gains, the burden of “Conditions of Entry” (CoE) imposed by international partners like the US Coast Guard continues to create logistical delays for Nigerian-flagged vessels and those departing from its local terminals (Chilaka, 2025). High-fidelity data from the Global Integrated Shipping Information System confirms that while actual hijackings have decreased, the threat of “petro-piracy” and kidnapping for ransom remains a dormant variable that necessitates continued investment in private maritime security companies for transits through the Eastern African and Western Indian regions (Chilaka, 2025).
6. Learning Resources & Bibliography
- Reference 1: Chilaka, E.M. (2025) ‘The Declining Hegemony of Pirates and Drug Traffickers in Nigerian Waters Versus the Burden of US Conditions of Entry’, Journal of Developing Societies, 41(1), pp. 35-61. doi: 10.1177/0169796X241285432.
- Reference 2: UNCTAD (2025) Review of Maritime Transport 2025: Staying the course in turbulent waters. Geneva: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. Available at: https://unctad.org/system/files/official-document/rmt2025_en.pdf.
- Reference 3: Zhao, L., Zhang, X. and Wu, J. (2024) ‘Evaluation and strategy development of port-industry-city integration: A China’s case’, Ocean & Coastal Management, 256, 107293. doi: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2024.107293.
- Reference 4: Abubakar, I.R. and Umar, S.I. (2025) ‘Geo-Politics of Maritime Shipping and Sustainable Sea Port Management in Marginalised Region of Nigeria’, Journal of Marine Science, 12(3), pp. 88-104.