Maritime Business

Maritime business is a specialist degree concerned with the commercial, logistical and legal dimensions of the shipping industry, one of the oldest and most essential sectors of the global economy. Around ninety percent of world trade by volume travels by sea, making shipping the invisible backbone of globalisation. The industry encompasses container shipping, bulk carriers, tankers, offshore logistics, ship chartering, marine insurance, port operations and the complex web of international law and commercial contracts that governs it all.

Understanding this world requires both commercial and legal knowledge and an appreciation of the physical realities of ships, cargoes and maritime operations.

At the University of Plymouth, which has deep roots in maritime education, this three-year programme provides a thorough grounding in the commercial and legal dimensions of the shipping industry. You will study charter parties and shipping contracts, marine insurance and claims, port operations, international trade finance, freight markets, maritime law and the commercial factors that determine how ships are operated as business investments. The programme includes a sandwich year, a year abroad and work placements, providing structured routes to develop professional experience and international perspective in an industry that is by definition international and in which connections and reputation matter significantly.

Plymouth's maritime connections provide direct pathways to industry networks and placement opportunities that many maritime programmes cannot match.

Graduates go on to careers in ship management, ship broking, chartering, maritime law, port operations, marine insurance, freight forwarding, commodity trading and international logistics. Further study in maritime law, shipping management or international business is also a common route for those seeking senior or specialist roles in the industry.