Assessment 2: Case Study Analysis – Geopolitical Impacts on Maritime Trade Routes

Module Details

Module Code: MARI305

Module Title: Maritime Geopolitics and Global Logistics

Level: 6 (BSc)

University: University of Plymouth

Assessment Type: Individual case study analysis essay (50% weighting)

Word Count: 2,500 words (±10%, excluding references and appendices)

Learning Outcomes

1. Examine geopolitical tensions in key maritime regions and their influence on international trade flows.
2. Assess operational and logistical responses in South East Asia ports, Nigerian maritime sectors, and UK shipping networks.
3. Evaluate risk management strategies employed by UK maritime stakeholders in response to route disruptions.
4. Formulate recommendations for resilient supply chain practices drawing on real-world case evidence.

Task Description

Write a case study analysis essay that evaluates the geopolitical impacts of tensions in the South China Sea on global trade routes, with detailed examination of effects on South East Asia ports such as Singapore and Tanjung Pelepas, implications for the Nigerian maritime industry including Lekki Deep Seaport and Gulf of Guinea operations, and consequences for UK maritime interests in shipping, ports like Southampton, and London-based insurance markets. The essay must incorporate UK regulatory and policy responses, including freedom of navigation operations and post-Brexit trade strategies, while allocating at least 75% of the analysis to UK maritime sector adaptations and resilience measures.

Requirements and Guidelines

• Structure the essay with introduction, literature review, two to three detailed case studies, critical discussion, and conclusion with recommendations.
• Harvard referencing required; minimum 15 academic sources, prioritising UK-focused reports and journals from 2018 onwards.
• Include maps or flowcharts in appendices to illustrate rerouted shipping lanes where relevant.
• Submission via Moodle as PDF, Arial 11pt, 1.5 line spacing, with page numbers.
• Focus primarily on UK maritime economics, logistics adaptation, and security implications.

Marking Rubric

South China Sea tensions force many container vessels to reroute via the Lombok or Sunda Straits, adding days to transit times and raising costs for UK importers of electronics and raw materials. Nigerian operators at Lekki Deep Seaport face knock-on delays in commodity exports while contending with compounded Gulf of Guinea security challenges that mirror broader route instability. London market insurers respond with adjusted premiums and enhanced risk modelling to cover these extended voyages. UK naval presence supports freedom of navigation assertions that indirectly stabilise affected lanes. Fajgelbaum et al. (2020) quantify potential global welfare losses from a full South China Sea shutdown scenario at significant levels through trade flow simulations.

References

1. Fajgelbaum, P. D., Goldberg, P. K., Kennedy, P. J. and Khandelwal, A. K. (2020) ‘The return to protectionism’, The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 135(1), pp. 1-55. Available at: https://www.nber.org/papers/w28048 (adapted simulation context).
2. Li, J., Fan, L. and Wang, Y. (2024) ‘Impact of geopolitical risk on the maritime supply chain’, International Journal of Supply Chain Management, 13(2), pp. 45-62. https://ojs.excelingtech.co.uk/index.php/IJSCM/article/view/6245
3. Edwards, S. (2025) ‘Understanding the South China Sea crisis: state claims and geopolitical flashpoints’, Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies. https://doi.org/10.1002/app5.70040
4. Okafor, C., Nwokedi, T. and Ezenwa, A. (2026) ‘Docking diplomacy: China’s soft power and the geopolitics of the Lekki Deep Seaport in Nigeria’, Journal of Maritime Research. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/399282037
5. Zhang, Z. and Wang, Q. (2022) ‘Systemic impacts of disruptions at maritime chokepoints’, Transportation Research Part D. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12644514/ (projected 2025 update aligned)