Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE INL4004

 
TITLE Practical Problems in the Law of the Sea

 
UM LEVEL 04 - Years 4, 5 in Modular UG or PG Cert Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT International Law

 
DESCRIPTION Building on theoretical knowledge of the law of the sea gained in previous years of study, this study-unit offers an opportunity to look at a number of practical and controversial questions arising in the law of the sea.

The topics and case-studies analysed will change from year to year but, by way of example, the following issues can be mentioned:

1) The disembarkation of persons rescued at sea (an exploration of the Maltese position);
2) Environmental responsibility in the management of common and disputed offshore hydrocarbon resources;
3) Questions of ‘creeping’ coastal State jurisdiction.

Study-unit Aims:

To raise awareness about the practical relevance of the law of the sea and to provide students with an opportunity to think analytically and to apply theoretical knowledge of the law of the sea. This process should help the development of knowledge and skills that are useful when approaching law of the sea and general international law issues.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding

By the end of the study-unit the student will be:
- Aware of major controversial issues in the law of the sea and of the main arguments being raised by the relevant parties;
- Able to provide a legal evaluation of various controversial instances and situtations;
- Able to use theoretical knowledge to construct convincing arguments in relation to instances that arise in practice.

2. Skills

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to apply learned knowledge to particular situations that may arise in the ambit of the law of the sea and should feel better equipped to approach controversial questions in international law generally.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

The following is a list of a number of relevant textbooks. More topic-specific literature will be provided to students in lectures.

Main Texts

- R. Rothwell and others. "The Oxford Handbook of the Law of the Sea" (OUP, 2015).
- Y. Tanaka. "The International Law of the Sea". (2nd Ed, Cambridge University Press, 2015).

Supplementary readings

- I. Brownlie. “Principles of Public International Law”. (7th Ed, OUP, 2008).
- M. N. Shaw. “International Law”. (6th Ed, Cambridge University Press,2008).
- M.D. Evans. "International Law" (3rd, OUP, 2010).
- J. Collier and V. Lowe. "The Settlement of Disputes in International Law" (OUP, 1999).
- R. Churchill and A.V. Lowe. "The Law of the Sea" (3rd Ed. Cambridge University Press, 1999).

Periodicals

- American Journal of International Law
- European Journal of International Law
- International and Comparative Law Quarterly
- British Yearbook of International Law

Selected Websites

- American Society of International Law http://www.asil.org
- Electronic Informational System for International Law http://www.eisil.org
- United Nations http://www.un.org
- International Maritime Law Institute http://www.imli.org
- International Court of Justice http://www.icj-cij.org
- International Law Commission http://www.un.org/law/ilc/
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malta http://www.foreign.gov.mt/
- ITLOS http://www.itlos.org/

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Pre-Requisite qualifications: Students should ideally have a basic background in the law of the sea

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit