MSc Maritime Operations Management

Program Overview

LJMU's MSc in Maritime Operations Management equips students with the skills and knowledge to be effective shipping operations project managers. Students benefit from industrial visits, guest lectures, and the opportunity to build connections within the maritime sector.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

LJMU's MSc in Maritime Operations Management is an internationally respected program that offers access to a world-renowned research institute and essential contacts for your future career.

Objectives:

• To provide students with the tools to be effective project managers of shipping operations.
• To equip students with the knowledge and skills to understand the latest developments in the maritime industry.
• To help students build a network of important contacts in the maritime industry.

Program Description:

• The program is offered as a 1-year full-time or a 2-year full-time option.
• The curriculum is informed by world-leading research and links with the regional Mersey Maritime cluster and the UK-wide maritime industry.
• Graduates are eligible for exemptions from the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers chartered membership examinations.
• The program is taught at one of the UK's leading Maritime Schools, located in the famous port city of Liverpool.
• Students have the option to study law, port security management, and risk and asset management.
• The program includes employer visits and lectures from guest speakers.
• Industrial visits and guest lecturers are an important part of the course, enabling students to understand the latest developments in the market and build a network of important contacts.

Outline:

Core Modules:

• Research Methods (10 credits): This module develops students' ability to formulate a coherent and well-designed research project and associated proposal.
It also aims to develop the skills required to critically analyze and evaluate research findings and the effective presentation of results.
• Maritime Economics and Management (20 credits): This module provides a comprehensive overview of topics including chartering, finance, ship management, and operational considerations that a shipping executive could deal with on a routine basis.
• MSc Project (60 credits): This module requires students to refine their aims, objectives, and program of work, and undertake research work with academic supervision.
Students will prepare a dissertation that demonstrates the appropriate application of research techniques in a suitable subject area at postgraduate level.
• Project Management (10 credits): This module focuses on the management of projects using known standards and methodologies.
Students are given the opportunity to develop their skills in industry-standard project software and demonstrate their ability through a time-constrained exercise. It aims to develop a sound understanding of the fundamental concepts of managing projects.
• International Trade and Global Transport Systems (20 credits): This module helps students develop an understanding of the key influences affecting the international trade market, with particular reference to the impact they have on global logistics flows.
It also provides insight into freight transport operations on an international scale, with particular reference to the role of intermodality, the law and practice in relation to export sales, and the movement of goods.

Optional Modules:

• Maritime and Offshore Safety Analysis (20 credits): This module aims to enable students to understand and implement the requirements of formal safety design, assessment, and review in marine, offshore, and port areas.
• Group Design Project (60 credits): This module enables students to apply engineering, technology, and scientific knowledge to a real-world design problem.
• Marine Maintenance and Asset Management (20 credits): This module provides knowledge about how the maintenance and repair of an offshore installation, vessel, or a fleet of vessels is managed.
It considers the lifecycle of a vessel and how maintenance is planned, scheduled, and executed.
• Operations Research (20 credits): This module introduces a set of fundamental techniques and tools to assist engineers and managers in making better decisions on real-world management/business problems.
• Logistics and Supply Chain Management (20 credits): This module provides an insight into the principles of logistics and supply chain management with particular reference to its application in the global business environment.
• Port Management and Security (20 credits): This module provides students with an overview of the global port industry and the evolving role of ports.
Students will gain appreciation of the diverse functions of port authorities and examine the public interests and commercial factors that influence the administration of ports at the national level, and governance of ports at the corporate level. This module examines a range of contemporary issues in the field of maritime and port security through the analysis of a series of relevant case studies. Students are introduced to some of the overarching legislation and are able to appraise its effectiveness.
• Law and Marine Insurance (20 credits): This module introduces students to core principles of law with ‘wet’ maritime law, serving as an example of how civil and criminal liabilities can arise from the marine business.
Having considered these liabilities, examination is made of established principles of the Marine Insurance. Analysis of the Marine Insurance Act 1906 and the implications of the Insurance Act 2015 reforms are made using case law developments. The options for alternative policy terms available via the Institute Clauses are also reviewed.
• Chartering and Carriage of Goods Law (20 credits): This module develops students' understanding of legal issues through an applied examination of carriage of goods and export sales.
This will give them the opportunity to develop professional skills relevant to their program of study as well as the attitude and behaviors necessary for employment in a diverse and changing environment.

Assessment:

• Assessment is via a combination of coursework with case study reports, assignment submissions, and short class tests.
• Some modules also test problem-solving skills through a combination of unseen written exams.

Teaching:

• Teaching methods include lectures and directed student-centered learning.
• Students will complete open-ended reports and project work to demonstrate their understanding of topics.
• Industrial visits are an important part of the course, enabling students to understand developments in the market.
They typically include: ports, ship visits, insurance underwriters (usually in London), P&I Club, and the IMO.

Careers:

• LJMU has an excellent employability record with 96% (HESA 2018) of its postgraduates in work or further study six months after graduation.
• The program's applied learning techniques and strong industry connections ensure that students are fully prepared for the workplace on graduation and understand how to apply their knowledge in a real-world context.
• Students are offered the opportunity to build industrial and commercial links for projects through guest lectures and industrial visits.
• There are excellent opportunities for roles such as consultants, managerial positions in shipping companies and the marine insurance industry, ship broking, and ship management.

Other:

• The Department of Maritime and Mechanical Engineering is located in the Byrom Street site of LJMU's City Campus.
• In addition to specialist engineering facilities, Byrom Street has high-quality lecture theaters, meeting and seminar rooms, plus a large café and social spaces.
• The Avril Robarts Library is just minutes away on Tithebarn Street.

Home full-time per year:

£9,370

International full-time per year:

£18,250

International year 1:

£18,250

International year 2:

£5,630

Sandwich year international:

£3,830