Since BIMCO launched the Maritime Law Academy in 2019, it has been a huge success and attended by delegates from all over the world. The academy covers cutting-edge issues of International Maritime Law and its relationship with international trade, shipping and marine insurance. It gives the opportunity for those who attend to acquire and develop legal knowledge with practical and focused legal mindset and insight into the fundamental principles of shipping and trade law.
The BIMCO Maritime Law Academy offers the participants a learning resource in constructing legal arguments, which can be applied in professional situations and aims to solve problems and reduce disputes. A core competence is clear and precise communication. Part of the course is therefore to train the skill of building precise arguments, with roots in English law.
The learning experience is enriched through case studies, forming a key element of the programme. From experience, we know that they add value by developing skills in communicating and defending participants’ viewpoints. Case studies sharpen analytical thinking and assist in developing a tolerance for different views. The various solutions, which naturally emerge from case studies, serve as a valuable reference when faced with similar issues in their daily professional lives.
The BIMCO Maritime Law Academy is residential and takes place at Trinity Hall at the University of Cambridge, England. All participants will stay at WYNG Gardens for the duration of the training. The “boot camp” atmosphere is a key aspect of the learning experience.
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Discounts
10% group discount is available for registering 3 or more participants from the same company. Cannot be combined with any other discount.
What will you learn?
- Strengthen your knowledge of how maritime law is used to create a framework for agreements and contracts used in international shipping.
- Understand how your knowledge of international maritime law can be used to solve disputes and argue points of view.
- Become aware of the interests and concerns of other parties to a dispute, and provide practical solutions using this knowledge.
- Be assessed on your knowledge of international maritime law and your understanding of how it fits into international trade.
- Understand how disputes are resolved by building a case on solid legal arguments, which will stand the test of arbitration or a court hearing.
Download Maritime Law Academy Programme PDF
How will this course help your professional development?
The BIMCO Maritime Law Academy centres on international law, with a focus on English Maritime Law. The programme has been designed to meet the specific needs of lawyers new to the field or those seeking to expand their experience, it has also been designed for shipping professionals and those working in banking, ship management or insurance who need to understand the complex background that legal and contractual relationships crated in shipping contracts. The BIMCO Maritime Law Academy is a good option for students, who already have a good knowledge of basic law, but would like to add to this a marketable familiarity with the principles of maritime and trade law. At all times, the emphasis will be firmly on commercial practice, rather than academic questions of law.
Previous course participants at Maritime Law Academy have come from all over the world including China, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, and USA.
Should I attend the BIMCO Maritime Law Academy or the BIMCO Summer Shipping School?
If you are familiar with the BIMCO Summer Shipping School in Copenhagen, you will recognize the basic layout of the Maritime Law Academy: 5 days in total, residential, i.e. you stay together and work together. Where the Summer Shipping School is focused on providing an overview of the chartering aspects, the Law Academy is focused primarily on the legal issues.
Course certification
A BIMCO certificate will be issued, showing the duration of the training.
Course materials
BIMCO issues electronic course file as an Adobe PDF file enabling you to make personal notes using a computer or tablet. Please bring a computer or tablet to the course! All documentation and presentations will be in English.
Notes
The course fee includes accommodation from Sunday, 31 August to Friday, 5 September 2025, as well as breakfast, lunch, coffee breaks, two group dinners, guided tours, and train tickets for Cambridge-London and London-Cambridge for the Wednesday tour of London.
See what past participants say about our training courses
I really enjoyed the Maritime Law Academy and I’d highly recommend it. It shows you a completely different and highly realistic aspect of the shipping world, which is happening all the time.
I found the training particularly useful in deepening my understanding of the evolving dynamics within the shipping industry, especially with regard to legal frameworks, operational efficiency, and environmental compliance.
Over the week, the programme provided a comprehensive overview of the shipping industry, covering diverse topics and perspectives to further expand my knowledge and highlight the complexity and importance of global shipping.
It was a truly great pleasure for me to attend this Masterclass. Many thanks to you and your BIMCO colleagues for sharing your exceptionally informative expertise.
