LWMAISL: AI and Technological Innovation in Shipping Law

Module code: LWMAISL

Module provider: School of Law

Credits: 20

ECTS credits: 10

Level: 7

When you’ll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Ayca Ucar, email: ayca.ucar@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2026/7

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 26 March 2026

Overview

Module aims and purpose

As the shipping industry has experienced an increase in adoption of AI technologies such as Autonomous ships, smart containers, insurability of AI risks, this module explores the legal challenges created by artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in the maritime and shipping law.

It examines how technological innovation is reshaping shipping operations, risk management, regulations and liability, and evaluates whether existing legal frameworks are fit for purpose. The module offers students with a broad and practical understanding of how shipping law response to digitalisation, automation, and data-driven maritime commerce.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. demonstrate a critical understanding of the operation and impact of AI and emerging technologies on shipping, and maritime, and insurance law;
2. analyse the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT) Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) in Maritime and Trade Law;
3. assess AI regulatory approaches in the EU and the UK, including the EU’s statutory framework under the EU AI Act and the UK’s principles-based, non-legislative approach;
4. evaluate Effects of Artificial Intelligence on Cargo Transportation via Container: Smart Containers and Legal Reflections;
5. analyse how AI in the maritime sector is being shaped through international developments at the IMO on Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) and through the adaptation of existing legal frameworks;
6. identify cyber risks in the maritime sector, assess risk management and prevention methods, analyse relevant IMO guidelines and regulations in the context of AI technologies, and examine the potential scope of coverage in the marine insurance market.

Module content

• Introduction to Digitalisation in Shipping Law.
• Autonomous Ships, existing International Conventions, liability and risk allocation.
• Smart Contracts and Blockchain in Shipping and Trade Law.
• Cybersecurity and New Technologies in shipping and marine insurance.
• Smart Containers and smart ports.
• Regularity and Policy Responses: IMO, EU and UK approaches.~
• Future of Shipping Law in the Age of AI, The need for legal reform and emerging trends.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module is taught a combination of seminars and workshops. Teaching in this module is designed to provide students with a wide variety of learning resources to support their learning. Students are expected to select topics within the scope of the module and deliver a 15-minute presentation in the class, followed by an interactive discussion. The main elements are:

• Twelve 2-hour seminars weekly 
• Assessed work that will be used to develop students' skills and knowledge.
  --An assessed presentation
  --An assessed essay  

The module adopts a research-led and highly interactive teaching approach. Students engage in short peer presentations and formative assessments on selected topics, supported by detailed feedback to prepare them for summative assessment. Teaching will be enhanced through workshops based on contemporary maritime disputes.

At the beginning of the semester, students receive two sets of supplementary material. The first sets out recommended textbooks, and a comprehensive reading list for the entire term to guide preparation. The second contains relevant legislation, and International Conventions applicable to the module. Audio presentation slides will be used in every seminar to help students follow the key topics more easily. Prior to each seminar, students will receive the presentation slides, which outline the key topics and relevant cases to be discussed.

Study hours

At least 24 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each calendar day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three calendar days;
• where the piece of work is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in you Individual Learning Plan), the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three calendar days of the deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

Where a piece of work is submitted late after a deadline which has been revised owing to an extension granted through the Assessment Adjustments policy and process (self-certified or otherwise), it will be subject to the maximum penalty (i.e., considered to be more than three calendar days late). This will also apply when such an extension is used in conjunction with a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs