Type of course

Course content

The course covers the following topics:

• Fisheries

• The exploration and exploitation of non-living marine resources (offshore energy and seabed mining)

• Navigation

• Illegal uses of the oceans, maritime enforcement, and naval operations at sea

• The role of international organizations, other institutional arrangements, and non-state actors in key marine activities

Objectives of the course

Knowledge
Having passed the exam, the student shall have acquired:

• Advanced knowledge of the international legal regime concerning living and non-living marine resources

• Advanced knowledge of the international legal regime concerning navigation

• Advanced knowledge of the international legal regime concerning illegal uses of the oceans, maritime enforcement, and naval operations at sea

• Knowledge of the challenges associated with competing uses of the oceans, and of solutions to these challenges

• Knowledge of the role of international organizations, other institutional arrangements, and other non-state actors in the regulation of marine activities

Skills
Having passed the exam, the student will be able to:

• Critically evaluate the major legal challenges arising from competing uses of the oceans

• Analyse the possibilities for and limitations to enforcement activities by coastal, flag, and port States

• Identify and interpret the relevant sources of the law of the sea, using the rules on treaty interpretation

• Use legal methodology to analyse law of the sea questions

• Apply theoretical and practical reasoning to formulate appropriate responses to different problems (e.g., competing uses of the oceans, the proper management of marine resources, limitations on enforcement activities)

General competence
Having passed the exam, the student will be able to:

• Analyse complex issues in relation to uses of the oceans, both systematically and creatively

• Identify and analyse law of the sea questions of both a theoretical and practical character

• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing about law of the sea questions with proper use of relevant legal methodology and terminology

• Demonstrate the ability to work independently as well as the ability to cooperate and effectively work as part of a team

• Evaluate current research and advanced scholarship on the uses of the oceans critically and independently, and to identify emerging and contemporary issues and debates and accordingly engage with these at an advanced level both in writing and verbally

Language of instruction and examination

Teaching methods