Dr. Ayça Uçar

Ayça Uçar

Lecturer in Shipping Law

Areas of interest

Dr Ayca Ucar is a Lecturer in Shipping Law at the University of Reading. Her academic and Professional expertise lies in Shipping Law, with particular focus on Admiralty Law, International Trade Law, Carriage of Goods by Sea, Charterparties Law and Practice, Marine Insurance Law, and Multimodal Transport Law.

Her research interests focus on the impact of AI and digitalisation in shipping law, including smart containers, autonomous vessels, and emerging technologies. In particular, her work engages with:

  • AI and Technological Innovation in Shipping Law
  • Autonomous System: Cyber Risks, Seaworthiness, Maritime Regulations.
  • Maritime Safety and Environmental Regulations

Teaching

  • Contract Law (LLB)
  • Legal Skills (LLB)
  • Admiralty Law (LLM)
  • AI and Technological Innovation in Shipping Law (LLM)
  • Marine Insurance Law (LLM)

Research centres and groups

  • The British Insurance Law Association (BILA)
  • Ankara University National Research Centre for Maritime Law (DEHUKAM)
  • Turkish Insurance Law Association
  • Turkish Maritime Law Association
  • Istanbul Bar Association

Background

Prior to joining the University of Reading, Dr Uçar was a Lecturer at Özyeğin University in Istanbul (2018–2024).

Her book Perils of the Sea and Inherent Vice in Marine Insurance Law (Routledge, 2020) received the British Insurance Law Association Best Book Prize in 2021, and a second edition of her book on passenger rights under the 1999 and 2002 Montreal Conventions was published in October 2024. Dr Ayca Ucar has recently published her third book, The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Carrier’s Liability in Maritime Cargo Transportation. 

Dr Ayca Ucar hold a PhD from the University of Exeter (2018), LLM in Maritime Law from the University of Southampton (2010) and LLM in Economy Law from Istanbul Bilgi University (2007). She received her LLB from Marmara University in 2001.

Alongside academic work, she has over 15 years of industry experience in multinational shipping and insurance companies in Turkey and the UK. Her roles have included trainee marine claims consultant at C Solutions Ltd. in London, in-house lawyer for TURKON Container Shipping Company, and Country Manager for Certasig Insurance & Reinsurance S.A. she has also worked at top-tier law firms in Istanbul, and she is a qualified lawyer and registered with the Istanbul Bar Association.

Selected publications

Books

  • Ucar, Ayca. (2025), The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Carrier's Liability in Maritime Cargo Transportation, 1st ed., Filiz.
  • Ucar, Ayca. (2025), Passenger Rights Under the 2002 Athens Convention and the 1999 Montreal Convention”, 2nd ed. Filiz.
  • Ucar, Ayca. (2025), Practice Questions for Maritime Law, Marine Insurance Law, International Trade Law and International Transport Law 6th edition Seckin.
  • Ucar, Ayca. (2020), Perils of the sea and inherent Vice in Marine Insurance Law 1st ed., Informa Law from Routledge (Award winning book by the British Insurance Law Association (2021 BILA Best Prize)

Articles

  • Ucar, Ayca. (2025). Prevention of Pollution from Sewage on Passenger Ships: A Comparison Between International and Turkish Regulations. How can artificial intelligence (AI) help to Improve the Most Common Issues with Sewage Systems? Yeditepe Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi, 22(2), 921-956. https://doi.org/10.63117/yuhfd.1727808
  • Ucar, Ayca. (2025). Effects of Artificial Intelligence on Cargo Transportation Via Container: Smart Containers and Legal Reflections within the Framework of National and International Rules Istanbul Medeniyet University Law Review,10, 2025, p.389-424. https://doi.org/10.58733/imhfd.1660213.
  • Ucar, Ayca. (2024) Buyers’ rights to market damages under SALEFORM 2012 Orion Shipping and Trading Ltd v Great Asia Maritime Ltd (The MV Lila Lisbon) [2024] EWHC 2075 (Comm) Lloyd’s Shipping & Trade Law, Volume,24, Issue,8.
  • Ucar, Ayca. (2024). Effects of War and War-like operations on the Charterer’s Obligation to Nominate a Safe Port in Charterparties, Aydin Law Review.
  • Ucar, Ayca. (2022). Examination of The Legal Responsibility of Cruise Ship’s Companies Against Passengers After the COVID 19 Pandemic in The Framework of National and International Rules Terazi Law review, Issue 193,2022, p.122-133
  • Ucar, Ayca. (2022). The Impact of Autonomous Ships on Piracy: Prevention Methods, New Developments, and Challenges Legal Journal of Law, Volume 20, Issue 233, p.1663-1694.
  • Merkin, R. and Ucar, A. (2020) Takings at sea: recent insurance law developments in England. Exeter Law Review, 45 pp. 45-67.
  • Ucar, Ayca. (2019). The outcome of Cendor Mopu: New scenario for ‘inherent vice’ and ‘perils of the sea Insurance Law Journal Australia (ILJ) Australia Volume 30, Issue LexisNexis.

Publications

Loading your publications ...