Diploma in International Maritime Arbitration (April 2025)

The number of international maritime arbitrations has grown over the past few years and is expected to continue to increase. The scale, diverse range and complexity of maritime arbitrations coupled with an increase in arbitral systems means that it is essential to have the right knowledge and skills to navigate this field. Ciarb’s Virtual Diploma in International Maritime Arbitration equips you with the relevant knowledge and skills to help you advance in this field. It is ideal for professionals wishing to increase their knowledge and relevant skills in the field of international maritime arbitration. Leads to eligibility for Ciarb Fellowship (FCIArb).

Date
Time
Price
From £5,380.00
Type
Virtual

Overview

 

Global developments directly and indirectly impact trade and transport. Unforeseen challenges such as the recent pandemic, and ongoing conflicts and sanctions lead to significant disruption and complications in maritime trade.

Maritime arbitration has been the dispute resolution forum of choice since ancient times, and it continues to be particularly suited to resolve novel and complex international disputes, which usually involve multiple jurisdictions. Parties have the option to appoint arbitrators with experience in the industry and understanding of the particularities of shipping. Furthermore, flexible arbitral procedures and enhanced enforcement prospects, via the New York Convention, often make arbitration an attractive option for maritime dispute resolution compared to court proceedings.

Ciarb’s Diploma in International Maritime Arbitration is a practical course delivered by experienced practitioners in the field, ideal to introduce you to the world of international maritime arbitration.

The Diploma provides you with a detailed knowledge of the procedural elements of an international maritime arbitration, as practiced in the most commonly used maritime centres, using legislation based on the English Arbitration Act 1996 and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law, together with the London Maritime Arbitrators’ Association (LMAA) Terms, the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules and other maritime arbitration rules.

You will gain the knowledge required to analyse submissions, arrive at a conclusion and write a final, reasoned and enforceable arbitration award in compliance with the Arbitration Act 1996 and maritime arbitration rules.

Once you successfully complete the course and all corresponding assessments, you can apply to become a Ciarb Fellow. Fellowship (FCIArb) is internationally recognised and respected. When you become a Ciarb Fellow, you join a distinguished group of experienced alternative dispute resolution (ADR) practitioners. Fellowship unlocks eligibility to join Ciarb’s and other global dispute panels.

George Lambrou

 

George is an international dispute resolution specialist who resolves high-value and complex multijurisdictional disputes. He is a Solicitor Advocate (England & Wales) who spends most of his time involved in arbitration and as a negotiator and overall problem solver. Throughout his career, George has advised and acted for (and against) governments, commercial entities and individuals from a wide range of countries.

George has extensive English High Court experience as well as international arbitration experience with the ICC, LCIA, LMAA, SCC, and ICSID where he regularly sits as arbitrator. He also has a strong maritime background, having been a partner for many years in a leading London-based shipping law firm. He is currently Director of the CIARB Maritime Arbitration Diploma.

George is fluent in Russian and Greek.

Key dates to consider

 

Dates

Details

 

30 January 2025

 

  • Due date to send your CV for consideration.

 

 

17 March 2025

 

 

  • Final booking deadline (successful application dependent).
  • Full course fee is due.

 

2 April 2025 - 

25 June 2025

 

  • Course takes place virtually (one day a week on Wednesdays)

 

10 July 2025

 

  • Part 1 assessment is released.

 

14 August 2025

 

  • Module 2 exemption test completion deadline.

 

15 August 2025

 

  • Part 3 assessment is released.

Assessment

 

Part 1

Candidates must take a law, practice and procedure of international maritime arbitration assessment on 10 July 2025.

This assessment is completed via LearnADR, Ciarb’s online learning platform. Candidates will be given 48 consecutive hours within a 5-day window to submit their answers online. Candidates must achieve a minimum overall mark of 65% to pass the assessment. Candidates who fail any assessment will be required to retake them as per the Candidates Regulations.

The assessment will be split into 2 parts:

Part One
Is a compulsory case study exercise with a number of questions that candidates will be required to answer worth 40 marks.

Part Two
Consists of five questions, candidates are required to select and answer three questions worth 60 marks.

Part 2

Candidates that hold a recognized Law Degree are eligible for the exemption test. This is done via the LearnADR platform on the common law and civil law of contract and tort sent out to candidates after successfully completing the Part 1 assessment. 30 questions will need to be answered within 90 minutes, with a pass mark of +70%.

Existing Fellows of the Ciarb are exempt from having to complete Part 2.

Part 3

The award writing exam will assess your ability, in the context of an ad hoc arbitration, to write an award as a sole arbitrator that withstands scrutiny under the NYC Model Law and UNCITRAL procedural rules. The award will be assessed on:

Technical merit: The drafting of the formalities and the operative award is technically accurate, comprehensive, and comprehensible.

  • Comprehensive: includes a Header; names the Award, identifies the Parties, the Arbitrator and Counsel, an Introduction; the Facts of the Case; the Arbitration Agreement; the Applicable Laws and Rules to the Procedure and Substance; the Procedure for appointing the arbitrator; the Procedural History; the Jurisdiction; the Reasoning and Issues in Dispute; Pre and Post Award Interest; Costs; Dispositive, Place, Date and Signature.

 

  • Accurate: The above details are complete and accurate including the Tribunal’s Jurisdiction and Governing Parameters, and that the Procedural History demonstrates due process and that all parties had full opportunity to present their cases.

 

  • Comprehensible: Language, formatting and numbering do not fundamentally obscure the meaning through incoherence, or ambiguity.


Juridical Merit: All the discrete Issues in the Dispute are identified, analysed with an appropriate level of factual and legal rigour, and effectively addressed. The findings are logically and unambiguously summarised as an enforceable Award.

  • The Factual and Legal Analysis: For each issue the Facts and Law are identified; the Application of the Law to the Facts is explained; a Conclusion on the resulting liability and quantum is clearly articulated. Each Issue is effectively addressed, whether Interlocutory/Preliminary, Substantive, or Evidential.

 

  • Due Process: The Procedural History is comprehensive from the Notice of Arbitration to the Award. It includes representation and witnesses; demonstrates due process and that all parties had full opportunity to present their case; it leaves nothing unfinished.

 

  • Costs and Interest: The award consolidates the findings on Costs and Interest comprehensively and coherently, taking account of compliance and sequencing. It includes the arbitrator’s fee, the hearing costs, procedural costs and the parties’ costs, and other costs.

 

  • Scrutiny: The award is drafted to the standards required by the NYC and UNCITRAL Law, contains the necessary facts to counter grounds for vacatur and addresses scrutiny points including defective arbitration agreements, denial of procedural fairness, improper tribunal composition and/or procedure, excess of jurisdiction.


This assessment is completed via LearnADR, Ciarb’s online learning platform. Candidates will be given 48 consecutive hours within a 5-day window to submit their award online. Candidates must achieve 70% in Part A, Part B and overall to pass the assessment.

Part A: Focuses on the technical merit and counts as 40% towards the overall mark.

Part B: Focuses on the judicial merit and counts as 60% towards the overall mark.

The assessment is split into two stages:

Stage One: This consists of the papers in the case. They are sufficient to enable you to grasp the nature of the case and the likely legal problems. Most of the documents are extracts only. You should consider the recitals you intend to include and the relevant law.

Stage Two: This is the equivalent of the hearing stage. It includes an extract from your (i.e. the arbitrator’s) notebook. This records the oral evidence and arguments the arbitrator has heard, as well as any other relevant documents. From the evidence you must make your findings of fact. Different candidates will no doubt make different findings. This is of no consequence, except that it means there are a great many possible answers to the question. When you have made your findings of fact, write the award. It must be a final award as regards the issues you decide.

Stage One of the assessment is released via LearnADR 10 days before the assessment start date.

Stage Two is released at 12pm noon London Time on the assessment start date via LearnADR too.

Stage 2 will be available for 5 days from the assessment start date and within those 5 days, you will have 48 consecutive hours to submit your award back onto LearnADR.

Results are dispatched to candidates normally twelve weeks from the deadline date of the submission. Candidates will be informed of any delays.

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Course fee

 

The course fee for the Virtual Diploma in International Maritime Arbitration is £5,380.50 inclusive of VAT.

Existing MCIArb and FCIArb candidates can claim a 10% discount on the full course fee by quoting their membership number upon registration.

The full course fee is due no later than 17 March 2025.

The course fee for the Diploma includes:

  • registration onto the Diploma course
  • study materials for the course, except for the material that may
    be purchased by the candidate (see below).
  • Part 1 assessment.
  • Part 2 exemption test.
  • Part 3 assessment.

If a candidate fails any part of the Diploma, an additional re-sit fee will be charged for the relevant failed assessment(s).

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Eligibility & Application

 

To be considered for the Diploma you must meet both of the following minimum entry requirements:

  • Ciarb Members and non-members with a minimum of five years’ professional workplace experience as, for example, a lawyer, surveyor, accountant, insurer, shipbroker or similar. This experience must involve communicating with others, problem-solving, managing workloads effectively, decision-making and the exercise of judgment, and;

 

  • You must be actively involved in and have experience of Arbitration and wish to extend your knowledge in International Maritime Arbitration procedures.

All candidates enrolling on any Ciarb course should ensure that their command of spoken and written English is adequate for the course for which they have applied. Ciarb specifies the need for its candidates to have adequate English in order to ensure that their academic progress is not hindered by language difficulties.  Ciarb issues this advice as a guideline and, while it will not require any evidence of this standard prior to enrolment on a course, candidates who do not have this standard of English may be disadvantaged.  it is recommended that they have achieved a standard that is, as a minimum, equivalent to the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) level 7 or a score of 94-101 in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) system but we do not require an official IELTS or TOEFL result.

Please contact the British Council for further details on how to improve your English skills: https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/

How to apply

In order to be considered for this programme, please send your full CV to akhan@ciarb.org by 30 January 2025 at the latest. Should you be successful in your application, you will be contacted regarding registration and payment.

Please note that CV’s are processed in batches and as such, the review process can take upwards of 4 weeks. You will be contacted should you be successful in your application.

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Diploma Details

Is there a full course information sheet?

Read the full information sheet here.

How is the course structured?

The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators’ (Ciarb) Virtual Diploma in International Maritime Arbitration provides the in-depth training you need. Ciarb is an international centre of excellence for the practice of alternative dispute resolution (ADR).

PART 1 Law, Practice and Procedure of International Maritime Arbitration

Part 1 is delivered by experienced practitioners by way of virtual training sessions. Upon completion of the training, candidates will have to undertake and pass a law, practice, and procedure assessment on 10 July 2025 to be eligible to join Ciarb as Members (MCIArb).

PART 2 Law of Obligations

The part 2 link for this online test is sent out to those candidates who meet the criteria for the exemption test after successfully completing the Part 1 assessment. This can be expected in the beginning of July. Candidates that hold a recognized Law Degree are eligible for the exemption test and must take and pass the online exemption test on the common and civil law of contract and tort before their Part 3 evidence and award writing exam on 15 August 2025. Existing Fellows of the Ciarb are exempt from having to complete Part 2. Candidates that fail the exemption test, must take the full module 2 course and assessment at an additional cost. The full module 2 course will take place from 17 October 2024; part 3 can only be commenced after successful completion of the module 2 course and assessment if you are not eligible for the exemption test.

PART 3 Evidence and Award Writing of International Maritime Arbitration

After successfully completing Part 1, candidates can apply to become a Member of Ciarb. After successfully completing Parts 2 and 3, and a peer interview, candidates can apply to become a Fellow of Ciarb. (Eligibility dependant)

What is covered in the syllabus?

ADR Processes and Arbitration

Definition and placement of Arbitration within a range of DR processes

Law and the Legal Framework surrounding Arbitration

  • Legal systems, the hierarchy of norms, and the role of courts in support of arbitration
  • The New York Convention, importance of the seat of arbitration and choice of law
  • Nature and limits of arbitration
  • DR clauses and the arbitration agreement; formation, validity and incorporation by reference
  • Types of arbitration: ad-hoc, institutional, documents only, time limited

 

The Arbitration Procedure

  • The appointment of the arbitrator and terms & conditions of appointment
  • An arbitrator’s jurisdiction and powers
  • Obligations and responsibilities of the tribunal and the parties
  • Managing the arbitration process: communications, preliminary meeting, interlocutory matters, submissions, dealing with factual and opinion evidence and disclosure of documents, the hearing
  • The commencement of the arbitral process, the activation and scope of the agreement
  • Challenges to jurisdiction and conflicts of interest
  • Preparation for procedure at a typical hearing, contrasting common law and civil law jurisdictions
  • Alternative methods for presenting claim and defence
  • Interim measures, including injunctive relief and security for costs
  • Costs, offers and interest - approaches in different jurisdictions
  • Essentials of an enforceable award
  • Using technology in arbitration

 

Maritime arbitration

  • Maritime contracts including international sales contracts and Incoterms, bills of lading, charter parties, shipbuilding contracts, marine insurance, salvage
  • Maritime Arbitration Commissions and Rules in major shipping nations with a particular emphasis on the London Maritime Arbitrators Association Rules (LMAA) and the Hong Kong Maritime Arbitration group (HKMAG) and the Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration (SCMA).
  • Legislation in England & Wales and the APAC Region.

What are the learning outcomes?

On successful completion of the Diploma candidates will be able to:

 

  • Describe
    • the contractual nature of Arbitrator appointment
    • the range and limitations of an Arbitrator’s powers and jurisdiction
    • the rights, duties, and responsibilities of a party to an Arbitration

 

  • Explain
    • Legal procedural principles, rules, and agreements relevant in International Maritime Arbitration
    • the legal limitations on what matters/disputes it is permissible to arbitrate
    • the methods of initiating and processing a Maritime Arbitration
    • the relevance of the state court at each stage of an Arbitration from appointment to enforcement and challenge

 

  • List the elements required for an Award to be
  • Identify and apply the correct relevant rules and laws to procedural issues which may arise in a maritime
  • List the advantages and possible disadvantages of maritime arbitration comparted to other means of maritime dispute

What happens when I register for the course?

Upon successful registration on the course, candidates will receive confirmation that they are booked on the course. Joining instructions will be sent to candidates approximately 2 weeks before the course start date that is 19th March 2025.


Candidates are encouraged to purchase the following books prior to the start of the Diploma course: London Maritime Arbitration by Clare Ambrose, Karen Maxwell and Michael Collett QC, Fourth Edition 2017, inform a law from Routledge (Consultant Editor Bruce Harris).


Candidates will be provided with access to a virtual learning environment and electronic copies of material to assist them with the Diploma, together with a suggested reading list. It is recommended that candidates are familiar with the English Arbitration Act 1996 and the LMAA Terms 2017 and the substantive law in their respective jurisdictions.

 

Candidates should also refer to the recognised standard textbooks to supplement their study in their respective jurisdictions where these are available.

What is Ciarb’s policy on cancellation of courses?

Ciarb reserves the right to cancel or change the date, venue or content of programmes and the names of speakers, lecturers, and tutors. Candidates will be provided with adequate notice of any change. If Ciarb must cancel a course, candidates will be provided with a full refund or the opportunity to transfer their registration to the next course. Should a candidate wish to cancel their registration of a course, notification must be received in writing to education@ciarb.org. Cancellation charges apply. Please refer to the Fee Sheet.

What is my next step when I complete the course?

On successful completion of the Diploma course and the corresponding assessments, all candidates:


• may be eligible to claim CPD if the course has contributed to members’ development, and evidence of participation is provided. It may count as part of the CPD requirement for CIArb, Solicitors Regulation Authority, Bar Standards Board, ACCA, CILEX, ICE and RIBA;


• will be eligible to apply for:
o Fellowship of CIArb upon successful completion of Part 1, 2, 3 and the Peer Interview. (Eligibility dependant)


• Candidates are only eligible to apply for the relevant membership grade for a maximum of 2 years after having successfully completed the course & assessments.