The textbook discusses the main provisions characterizing the organizational and legal system of maritime transport, state supervision of merchant shipping, the legal status of seaports, state port control, requirements for sea vessels, their classification and certification. The issues of implementation of management in the field of merchant shipping, safety of sea transportation of pilotage of ships are covered. The main aspects of the legal regulation of the carriage of passengers, cargo, luggage by sea in domestic and international communications, as well as the regulation of the contract of chartering a vessel for a while (time charter) and the contract of chartering a vessel without a crew (bareboat charter) are studied. An analysis of the responsibility of the parties to contractual relations in the organization and implementation of maritime transportation, as well as the claim and claim procedure for resolving disputes during transportation, is given. A number of institutions of maritime law are considered, including marine insurance, general average, maritime lien on a ship, ship mortgage, ship arrest, maritime protests.The textbook is intended for master's students, as well as for graduate students and teachers of legal universities and faculties, transport universities, legal practitioners, employees of transport structures.