• Identify drivers of demand and supply in the main shipping markets.
• Apply theories and models from micro- and macroeconomics to the study of shipping markets.
• Apply theories from international regulation/governance literature to the study of shipping policies.
• Analyze developments and emerging issues in global shipping as seen from ship-owning and policy-making perspectives.
• Critically evaluate new business opportunities in international shipping.
• Assess how sustainability impacts she shipping business and can contribute to shape a succesful business strategy
• Investigate the role of corporate social responsibility in shipping
• investigate the role of new technologies in shipping

This course advances the understanding of students to the economics and management of international shipping. The overall aim of the course is to give students knowledge about shipping markets, business stratefy and regulation of shipping and a basis for critically evaluating business opportunities in a highly volatile and international industry. The course has a strong focus on sustainable practicies in shipping, including investement choices related to new technologues, business opportunities associated with improved environmental performance and corporare sustainability. 

The course focuses on recent developments and future challenges in shipping markets and presents both ship-owning and policy making perspectives on the subject. Models and theories from micro- and macroeconomics are applied to the study of shipping markets, and theories from international economics and governance literature are applied to the study of maritime policy and regulation. The course enables students to identify emerging trends in shipping markets and shipping regulation and critically assess new business opportunities accordingly.
 

The course is divided into two main parts:

In the first part of the course we will look into the global role of shipping and the characteristics of different shipping segments. The students will be introduced to the economics of dry bulk shipping, tanker shipping, passenger shipping (cruise and ferry), container shipping and specialized shipping. In this part we will also focus on freight market forecasting, ship management, ship finance, and risk management. Startegic and operational considerations will be discussed,with a speicific focus on the application of existing managerial and economics concepts to shipping. We will also examine how regulation affects the different shipping segments. The students will be introduced to the maritime regulatory bodies at the international, supranational and national level. We will use different governance and compliance theories to examine how regulations are carried out, how they are enforced, and how they affect different shipping segments. We will also discuss the problems that arise when trying to regulate a global industry and discuss how regulatory inconsistencies may affect shipping companies.

In the second part, we will focus on sustainability in the various segments of shipping. We will discuss shipping environmental and social impacts, current regulatory developments, as well as the technological advancements that will change shipping in the coming decade. This will include for example the energy transition, digitalisation, improvements on engine and hull technologies but also changes in organisational, operations and managerial practices. Students will be confronted with realistic business challenges and will discuss how sustinability can be the foundation for building a solid business. We will discuss how different types of regulation affect the corporate strategies of ship operators and to what extent the regulatory framework may become a competitive advantage for shipping companies.

The course includes guest lectures from shipping companies where we will hear how the strategies of companies in different segments are affected by current and future business challenges.

This course is part of the minor in Maritime Business

 

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