Maritime security is one of the longest standing distinctive areas of international law dealing with international security issues due to the historic importance of the law on piracy. With the development of the international law of the sea, coastal state maritime security has gained in prominence as an array of maritime zones have been proclaimed and new sovereign rights and jurisdiction asserted over maritime areas. Alongside this development there has since 1945 with the development of the United Nations Charter been an ever increasing maritime security dimension to the concerns and response of the Security Council, especially when acting under Chapter VII. This has especially been reflected in numerous Security Council Resolutions mandating naval operations, and more generally military operations to maintain international peace and security. UN-mandated naval operations were especially significant in the sanctions regime imposed against Iraq (1990-2003) during which time extensive state practice developed in this field. Since then the Security Council has also mandated member states to conduct military operations at sea to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, international terrorism, and piracy. Some of the recent developments that have taken place in response to piracy off the coast of Somalia have been the most significant in the past century. These events have shone the spotlight back on maritime security and have emphasised the importance of this distinctive branch of international law.

At the end of the course    students will:

• have specialised knowledge and skills, especially with respect to research in the area of international security law and maritime security in particular;
• have an advanced and integrated understanding of a complex body of knowledge in the area of the law of maritime security;
• be able to analyse critically, reflect upon and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories as they apply in the area of maritime security;
• be able to apply knowledge and skills to demonstrate autonomy, expert judgment, adaptability and responsibility as a learner

Class participation: 10%

Compulsory short essay (2000 words): 30%

Research project (4000 words): 60%

Four full days of face-to-face classes plus preparation reading for and time for reseach and study for assessment items.

Click here for current timetable

Corequisite - LAWS8182

Advanced learning skills in international security law and in legal research and writing.

Natalie Klein, Maritime Security and the Law of the Sea (Oxford: 2011)

Access to the internet