Unit 2: Safety and Environmental Standards

To provide a foundation for the appreciation of the complex body of maritime law. Students will consider the major international maritime conventions, and be introduced to the basics of environmental law. The fundamentals of maritime law and legislation, and in particular treaty law, are essential to provide a sound basis for students’ further studies.

 

Like in any other sector, effective management of maritime safety and the marine environment depends largely on the application of modern management theory and practice, as well as on a sound quality assurance system. The aim of this subject is to introduce the concept of quality and quality assurance systems, with examples to illustrate the application of these systems in practice especially in maritime safety and environment administration and management. It will also review the fundamental principles of organizational management and discuss the steps of implementing these principles in the maritime sector.

 

Maintaining maritime safety standards and protecting the marine environment from maritime transport activities in a specific state fall within the responsibilities of a government. Effective governance and control is therefore a decisive factor for the quality and performance of a state’s maritime administration regarding safety and environmental protection. The aim of this subject is to present the principles and practices of good governance and effective control with the emphasis being placed on their application in maritime safety and marine environmental protection. The subject will also introduce methods of ensuring the observance of international and national regulatory standards including flag, port and coastal State enforcement.

 

Shipping operations involve various types of uncertainty, some of which may become the origins of accidents that threaten the safety of lives and the marine environment. The essence of maritime safety and environmental management is therefore managing risks. The aim of this subject is to present the basic principles of risk assessment and management with an emphasis on their application in the maritime sector. Various categories of maritime-related technical and operational risks will be discussed in details and risk-based decision-making will be introduced in the context of maritime accidents.