INTRODUCTION TO SHIPPING

AIM

1) To introduce students to the essentials of business practice

2) To ensure a basic knowledge and understanding of the elements of shipping business

3) To develop communication skills

COMMERCIAL GEOGRAPHY

Continents, Oceans, Currents, & Tides, Weather & Climate, Canals & Waterways, Geographical regions (e.g. Far East, Mediterranean, S.E. Asia etc.). Location of major countries and ports, Latitude & Longitude.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

The global market. The need for shipping

CARGOES AND TRADE ROUTES

The role of liners and tramps. The dry bulk trades. The oil and other liquid trades. clean, products, chemicals, gas). Manufactured goods.

Origins and distributors of principal cargoes and trades.

SHIP TYPES

Bulk Carriers, Tankers, Containerships, Ro-Ro and General Purpose vessels.

CONTRACTS OF CARRIAGE

The basic anatomy of voyage and time charter parties. The main specialist terms and expressions.

Basic functions of the Bill of Lading with a comparison of its role in the liner and tramp trades.

LAW OF CARRIAGE

The fundamental difference between Contract and Tort. The role of international conventions. Hague/Hague-Visby/Hamburg Rules.

Legal aspects of Bills of Lading.

The role of marine insurance and P & I Associations.

SHIP REGISTRATION AND CLASSIFICATION

Flag state, offshore registers and flags of convenience.

The function of classification societies.

THE PRACTIONERS IN SHIPPING BUSINESS

Principals – shipowners, charterers, shippers and NVOCs.

Intermediaries - dry cargo chartering brokers, tanker chartering brokers, ship sale & purchase brokers, port agents, liner agents, ship managers, freight forwarders.

BASIC ACCOUNTING

The fundamentals of bookkeeping & corporate accounts.

Definitions and roles of Revenue, Cost, Profit, Capital, Cash-flow, Interest. The structure of business entities.

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