Legal Edge

Hari Narayan, maritime lawyer and partner, United Maritime Law Chambers, Kochi, on building a career in maritime law

Maritime law is a branch of law dealing with issues involved in shipping and navigation. Also called admiralty law, it is a body of both domestic law governing maritime activities, and private international law governing the relationships between private entities that operate vessels on the oceans. Maritime law is evolved out of necessities of sea borne trade and all nations involved in sea commerce has a maritime law as part of its legal system.

Earlier maritime law was not part of the LLB curriculum in the country. Now, considering the fact that India is fast emerging as a trade destination, universities have started incorporating maritime law subjects like marine insurance and carriage of goods by sea as subjects for LLB. Government of India has set up a central university called Indian Maritime University with headquarters at Chennai and campuses in almost all port cities to promote maritime studies.

A student interested in pursuing maritime law can undertake a two year LLM in maritime law. Universities abroad provide one year LLM course as well. They also offer short-term courses in maritime law for two to three weeks, for legal practitioners to understand the basics of maritime law. An in depth knowledge of the subject is essential for maritime lawyers to understand the issues involved and to provide a solution in the quickest possible time, considering the fact that time is money in shipping. 

Increase in sea bound trade and commerce will also increase the scope of legal issues requiring assistance of maritime law specialists. Therefore, there is huge potential for specialising in maritime law as a branch of practice. Unlike other branches of law, maritime practice is international in nature and most of the disputes involved are resolved through international arbitrations in various parts of the world. Maritime lawyers are among the most highly paid professionals in the world and fee is often charged on an hourly basis ranging from USD 1000 to 2000.

A career as a maritime lawyer allows you to travel all over the world, meeting and interacting with similar professionals and appearing before arbitral forums and tribunals.  Maritime lawyers are also preferred by Protection & Indemnity Clubs to work as claims executives. Alternatively, a specialisation in the subject could fetch a job in shipping companies, ports, shipyards and so on.