ICM126-International Maritime Trade

Module Provider: ICMA Centre
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Module version for: 2016/7

Email: g.alexandridis@icmacentre.ac.uk

Summary module description:
This module is the building block of the programme's maritime component in Term 1. The focus is on the global patterns in international trade, the characteristics of the main commodities carried by sea, and the geography of maritime trade (including main producers, exporting/importing countries and flows, routes, ports and choke-points). The module provides an in depth understanding of basic resources, agricultural and energy commodities such as oil and petroleum products, gas, iron ore, coal and grains. General merchandise carried in containers and patterns in liner trade are broadly covered. Participants also explore transportation mechanisms along with vessel types employed for different commodities and shipping routes. IMT is delivered by the Director of Shipping programmes along with senior select practitioners from the dry bulk, tanker and container sectors.

Aims:

Assessable learning outcomes:
By the end of the module, it is expected that the student will be able to:
•Develop an understanding of the economic characteristics of the commodities carried by sea
•Point out the key commodity producing and consuming countries
•Critically discuss the history of the georgraphy of maritime trade and commodity flows as well as current patterns and outlook
•Evaluate the importance of new advances in commodity markets and their impact on maritime trade
•Distinguish the different vessel types associated with each commodity and their characteristics

Additional outcomes:

Outline content:
?International Trade: Scope, Theories, History, Key Facts and Recent Trends
?Geography of Global Maritime Trade: History, Regions, Current Routes and Strategic Locations/Choke Points
?Container Trade: General Merchandise, Routes and Trade Patterns, Vessels, Main Ports)
?Agricultural/Soft Commodities: Grains, Cocoa, Coffee, Sugar, other Agri-bulk (production, characteristics, production/consumption, trade, seaborne flows)
?Metals: Iron Ore, other metals (process, trade, flows)
?Energy: Coal, Oil and Petroleum Products, Gas/LNG/LPG (production/consumption, trade, flows)
?Specialised Cargo: Fertilisers, Chemicals, Other
?Dry-bulk and liquid-bulk vessels and their characteristics

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
There will be 6 3-hour sessions. The techniques used to achieve the stated module objectives will consist of a combination of active teaching, question-answer sessions, class discussions, master-classes delivered by industry practitioners and examination.

Other information on summative assessment:

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:
Penalties for late submission on this module are in accordance with the University policy. Please refer to page 5 of the Postgraduate Guide to Assessment for further information: http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/exams/student/exa-guidePG.aspx

Length of examination:

Requirements for a pass:
A minimum total final mark of 50%.

Reassessment arrangements:
By written examination only, as part of the overall examination arrangements for the MSc programme.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):
1) Required text books:
2) Specialist equipment or materials:
3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:
4) Printing and binding:
5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:
6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:

Last updated: 21 December 2016