Assessment 2: Maritime Law and Environmental Compliance

Course Code:

MARL6025 – Maritime Policy, Regulation, and Environmental Compliance

Institution Context:

Applicable to: University of Plymouth, Solent University (Warsash Maritime School), University of Southampton, and Australian Maritime College (University of Tasmania). This assessment brief follows 2026 UK and Australian higher education assessment standards for postgraduate maritime studies.

Assessment Type:

Individual Written Report

Weighting:

40%

Word Length:

1,500–1,800 words (+/–10%)

Submission Format:

Submit as a single PDF or Word document via Turnitin. Font: Calibri 12pt, 1.5 line spacing, standard margins.

Assessment Title:

Maritime Law and Environmental Compliance: Evaluating Legal Mechanisms and Sustainable Regulatory Frameworks in International Shipping

Assessment Context:

Over the past decade, the maritime industry has faced increasing scrutiny under global environmental regulations such as MARPOL Annex VI, the Ballast Water Management Convention (BWMC), and the Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI). Compliance frameworks are also influenced by regional and national legislation — notably post-Brexit UK maritime law and Australia’s Navigation Act reforms. This assessment asks you to examine how international, regional, and domestic maritime laws interact to ensure environmental compliance and sustainable operations at sea.

Assessment Task:

You are required to write a structured analytical report that critically evaluates the current state of maritime environmental compliance through legal, policy, and enforcement perspectives. Use real-world examples from UK and Australian maritime jurisdictions. Discuss the implications for shipowners, operators, and port authorities regarding enforcement and compliance management.

Your report must include:

1. A clear overview of international legal frameworks (IMO conventions, MARPOL, SOLAS, BWMC, EEXI, CII).
2. Analysis of national implementation and post-Brexit divergence in the UK maritime sector.
3. Review of Australian environmental enforcement mechanisms and regional marine protection laws.
4. Case examples of compliance failures or successes (e.g., P&O Ferries, Great Barrier Reef management, or UK offshore oil operations).
5. Discussion of future challenges in decarbonization, alternative fuels, and green shipping compliance under IMO 2026 goals.
6. Recommendations for aligning regulatory frameworks with sustainability objectives and industry innovation.

Assessment Requirements:

• Use at least eight credible academic and policy sources (journal articles, IMO documents, case law, or government reports).
• Apply Harvard referencing style consistently.
• Include at least two UK and one Australian case example to demonstrate comparative legal understanding.
• Include visual support (optional): flowcharts, compliance frameworks, or legal hierarchy diagrams.
• Ensure clarity, structure, and critical evaluation – avoid descriptive summaries.

Marking Criteria (Rubric):

Criterion	Weighting	Excellent (70–100%)	Good (60–69%)	Pass (50–59%)	Fail (<50%)
Knowledge and Understanding of Maritime Law	25%	Comprehensive, detailed understanding of IMO, UK, and Australian maritime laws and conventions.	Clear and accurate understanding with minor omissions.	Basic understanding, limited integration of key conventions.	Inaccurate or superficial understanding of maritime legal frameworks.
Critical Analysis and Application	30%	Strong analytical insights linking law to environmental compliance and policy impacts.	Good discussion of connections between law and environmental performance.	Some analysis but largely descriptive.	No meaningful analysis or linkage to compliance issues.
Use of Evidence and Case Studies	20%	Relevant, current, and well-integrated legal cases and examples.	Generally relevant examples, not fully developed.	Limited examples, weak connection to argument.	No or irrelevant examples.
Structure and Coherence	15%	Excellent structure, logical flow, and professional report style.	Good organization, minor lapses in clarity.	Adequate structure but weak transitions or conclusion.	Poor structure, disorganized argumentation.
Referencing and Academic Integrity	10%	Accurate and consistent Harvard referencing throughout.	Minor referencing errors.	Frequent formatting issues but sources present.	Incorrect or missing references.

Sample Content (Excerpt for SEO Optimization):

Legal compliance within maritime operations increasingly defines global shipping performance. The IMO’s decarbonization targets under MARPOL Annex VI and the CII regulations require shipowners to integrate environmental management systems that meet both international and national standards. In the UK, post-Brexit maritime policy introduces distinct compliance obligations through the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), while in Australia, the Navigation Act and Marine Orders reinforce vessel safety and pollution control in ecologically sensitive zones such as the Great Barrier Reef (Karahalios & Bloor, 2021).

Suggested References (Harvard Format):

1. Karahalios, H., & Bloor, M. (2021). Maritime safety and environmental protection in the era of decarbonisation. *Marine Policy*, 133, 104580. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104580
2. Buhaug, Ø., et al. (2019). IMO strategies for greenhouse gas reduction in international shipping. *Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment*, 67, 94–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2018.11.012
3. McLaughlin, R. J., & George, S. (2022). Post-Brexit UK maritime environmental law: Divergence and global influence. *Ocean Development & International Law*, 53(4), 298–316. https://doi.org/10.1080/00908320.2022.2069402
4. Winther, M., et al. (2020). Regulation and compliance in shipping emissions: A comparative analysis. *Energy Policy*, 138, 111240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2019.111240
5. Vastardis, A., & Papantoniou, A. (2024). Legal instruments for sustainable shipping: From compliance to corporate accountability. *Journal of Maritime Law and Commerce*, 55(1), 23–45. https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.journals/jmlc55&i=23