Marine

Our Marine Work

• All
• Africa
• Americas
• Asia Pacific
• Middle East
• UK & Europe

• Administration of Speedferries Limited

  Securing the release of a fast ferry from arrest in France via applications in both English and French courts, and dealing with various claims to rights of ownership over the vessel during an administration, including selling the vessel through judicial sale in the admiralty court.

  France

  Bombay High North vessel collision with oil platform

  Advising in relation to an oil platform off the coast of India which was destroyed by a fire following a supply ship collision

  India

  US$360 million credit facility to finance the construction of LPG carriers

  Acted for a US financial institution on its US$360 million credit facility to a Singapore shipowner to finance the construction of six LPG carriers

  Singapore

  "AQASIA"

  Led the UK High Court and Court of Appeal litigation for the successful insurers of the cargo. This is a key decision on the inapplicability of Hague Rules limitation to bulk cargo.

  United Kingdom

  "MAERSK TANGIER" [2018]

  Advising successful subrogated cargo insurers in recovery claim for US$1.2m before the UK High Court and Court of Appeal. This was the first ever English reported case on meaning of container limitation provision in the Hague-Visby Rules.

  United Kingdom

  "PACIFIC VOYAGER" High Court Case

  Representing CSSA Chartering and Shipping Services SA ("PACIFIC VOYAGER") in a landmark charterparty case before the High Court. This case dealt with the nature of a shipowner's obligation to proceed to the loadport with utmost despatch.

  United Kingdom

  "THE CAPTAIN STEFANOS" piracy dispute

  Successfully acting for the charterer in a Court of Appeal dispute regarding piracy issues under NYPE form, particularly whether a vessel is off-hire during a hijacking by pirates

  United Kingdom

  A Masters' contractual claims settlement

  Advising on and assisting in drafting the settlement terms of contractual claims brought by a Master against his employer and the vessel owner

  United Kingdom

  Acquiring tonnage with a syndicated credit facility

  Advising on the acquisition of both newbuild and second hand tonnage, which involved a large syndicated credit facility for a shipping company backed by a private equity fund, providing advice on the security documentation and advising on completion of a series of closings on sale and purchase transactions

  United States

  Acquisition and sale

  Acting for Renaissance in its USD 150 million acquisition of BUE Marine Group, involving a fleet of nearly 50 vessels, to create one of the top 10 offshore support vessel operators, and assisting in the sale of an FPSO unit to a consortium of buyers for development of an offshore oil field

  United Kingdom
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• Coverage advice to Cargo Insurers in relation to loss/ seizure in West Africa

  Advising cargo insurers on coverage issues arising in relation to claims by the insured for loss/seizure/misappropriation of rice and veg oil cargoes in West Africa

  Cote dIvoire

  Potential sanctions breach chartering Libyan crude oil

  Advising an owner in relation to a voyage order from charterers to load a crude oil cargo out of Libya, including as to whether the owner could comply with the voyage order without being in breach of sanctions

  Libya

  Hijacking charter hire dispute

  Advising an agricultural company on a charter hire dispute following the hijacking of a vessel by pirates near Somalia, saving our client over USD 3 million

  Somalia

  Total loss of the Kiani Situ

  Advising cargo insurers after a bulk carrier ran aground with a cargo of rice. The vessel was refloated but it was not possible to bring it to port due to damage to the hull and the vessel subsequently sank

  South Africa

  Sinking the MSC Napoli and the loss of over 2000 containers

  Advising on the MSC Napoli, a container vessel which suffered structural damage whilst on a voyage from Northwest Europe to South Africa laden with approximately 2,600 containers

  South Africa

• Floating unit collision USD 20 million claim

  Acting for an insurer in relation to the P-XXV case involving a USD 20 million claim by a Brazilian insured for loss and damage following the collision of a floating unit

  Brazil

  Shipbuilding contracts for two shuttle tankers

  Advising owners on a shipbuilding contract and time charter of two shuttle tankers under construction for employment in Brazil

  Brazil

  Four charterparty arbitrations

  Advising on four separate charterparty arbitrations in relation to two vessels, with issues including payments of rent, early termination, delay due to poor maintenance and provision of spares, technical management fees, dry-docking, various costs

  Mexico

  MSC Flaminia major onboard fire

  Advising insurers on substantial claims for cargo loss and damage following a major fire on board a containership, during which several crew died, the ship was heavily damaged and at least 60% of the cargo on board was destroyed

  United States

  Longshoremans personal injury claim

  Acting in the successful defence of the shipowners and the manager of a serious personal injury claim by a longshoreman for a crushed hand during loading of a cargo container ship at New York Container Terminal

  United States

  Salvage of Golden Seas

  Acting for owners and their P&I Club in the USD 4 million salvage of the vessel off Alaska, dealing with Lloyds Open Form salvage, General Average, salvage indemnity, cargo damage and a casualty investigation

  United States

  Acquiring tonnage with a syndicated credit facility

  Advising on the acquisition of both newbuild and second hand tonnage, which involved a large syndicated credit facility for a shipping company backed by a private equity fund, providing advice on the security documentation and advising on completion of a series of closings on sale and purchase transactions

  United States

  US defence contractor property damage and business interruption dispute

  Advising and conducting defence of major reinsurance carrier in reinsurance dispute (Bermuda Form arbitration) with US defence contractor in relation to USD 1 billion property damage and business interruption claim following damage to its Gulf Coast shipyards and 15 US naval vessels under construction caused by Hurricane Katrina

  United States

  MSC NAPOLI structural damage

  Advising on a container vessel which suffered structural damage whilst on a voyage from Northwest Europe to South Africa laden with approximately 2,600 containers
  Advising owners in relation to longterm time charters for a series of newbuild 1000teu container ships

  United States

  Offshore labour law obligations

  Advising in connection with breach of warranties arising out of tax and labour law obligations regarding a rig’s operations offshore Venezuela

  Venezuela

• Container loss due to cyclone in the Bay of Bengal

  Acting for the P&I insurer of the lead charterers in relation to the loss overboard of 22 containers following a cyclone in the Bay of Bengal

  Bangladesh

  Cross-border multi party collision arbitration

  Advising a major Chinese shipowner and its UK-based P&I Club in a significant cross-border, multi-party arbitration arising out of the collision of a vessel with a loading berth in Brazil

  China

  Blue Seas vessel collision

  Successfully acting for sellers and their P&I Club on a sale/purchase dispute after the vessel was involved in a collision in China hours before due delivery. Our client cancelled for non-payment of the balance price and claimed the deposit. The buyers argued they were not in default as the ship was not in deliverable condition when the delivery period expired

  China

  USD 105 million bulk carrier newbuild dispute

  Acting for an owner/operator and its P&I Club against a Chinese shipyard and trading house in relation to the building of four bulk carriers, with a total value of USD 105 million. By winning the arbitration for the first vessel, the case was subsequently settled and our clients were able to cancel all vessels and receive the instalments already paid, plus costs

  China

  Construction of LNG carriers

  Negotiating contracts with Chinese shipyards (mainly Hu Dong Zhong in Shanghai) for the construction of LNG carriers using the GTT No 96 membrane containment system

  China

  Large pipeline rupture offshore Hainan

  Acting for subrogated insurers in a recovery action in respect of a large pipeline rupture offshore Hainan, China the most high-profile and serious oil pollution incident in China’s maritime history

  China

  Cargo claims against a large number of NVOCCs

  Assisting a number of cargo insurers to pursue cargo claims against a large number of NVOCCs in Hong Kong in relation to the loss of cargoes as a result of the sinking of the carrying container vessel in June 2013

  Hong Kong

  Bombay High North vessel collision with oil platform

  Advising in relation to an oil platform off the coast of India which was destroyed by a fire following a supply ship collision

  India

  Largest warehouse cargo fraud case in a decade

  Acting for insurers to defend a cargo claim following a warehouse fraud in which 144,000 MT of soybeans were lost. This case is thought to be the largest single cargo insurance case in the last decade

  Indonesia

  NYK Argus onboard fire

  Instructed by Japanese owners and their P&I Club on the biggest container ship case in recent years, following a fire on board the vessel causing damage to high value electronic equipment

  Japan
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• Tendering for construction of a floating dry dock

  Preparing tender documentation for the construction of a floating dry dock, including a specimen shipbuilding contract, for use by Bahrain Ship Repairing and Engineering Company for the acquisition of a second floating dry dock

  Bahrain

  Total loss of Atlantik Confidence

  Advising on the total loss of a bulk carrier and its cargo following a fire in the engine room. We have been acting for the owner to establish a limitation fund in the English courts, using a P&I Club letter of undertaking

  Oman

  Capsize of the offshore vessel Demas Victory

  Acting for insurers in relation to the “Demas Victory”, an offshore supply vessel, which capsized inbound to Qatar resulting in 30 deaths and ensuing criminal and civil proceedings, insurance and blood money issues

  Qatar

  Vessel fires

  Advising shipyards in the UAE and KSA on claims arising from fires on board vessels whilst in dry-docks

  United Arab Emirates

  Legal review

  Advising on the legal review of the draft Implementing Regulations of Law No. (11) of 2010 concerning Registration of Vessels in the Emirate of Dubai.

  United Arab Emirates

  Government of Bahrain

  Advising the Ministry of Finance in Bahrain in respect of the privatisation of Bahrain's ports.  The project involved a complete review of the existing legal structure, and the drafting of a new legislative regime for the regulation of port activities.

  United Arab Emirates

  Advising on charter parties

  Advising on regulatory issues in the registration of ships and pleasure craft in the UAE and under other flags; advising owners on the acquisition of an offshore drill rig; advising owners on reflagging of a jack-up accommodation barge.

  United Arab Emirates

  Onboard container ship explosion

  Advising on a major casualty case involving a 64,000 GT container vessel following a serious explosion in the engine room which caused a fire that spread through the ship, causing secondary explosions from seven containers full of fireworks which ignited

  Yemen

  Holy Light global cargo claim

  Acting for shipowners and their P&I Club in a highly contentious USD 2 million cargo claim in Yemen, which involved managing complex interlinking proceedings worldwide and recovery action against the charterers’ group

  Yemen

  Advising multiple cargo insurers on largest container vessel to ever be lost

  Advising multiple cargo insurers on the total loss of USD 300 million of cargo after container broke in two, caught fire and sank in two sections, losing all 4,382 containers on board. This is the largest container vessel ever to be lost

  Yemen

• Administration of Speedferries Limited

  Securing the release of a fast ferry from arrest in France via applications in both English and French courts, and dealing with various claims to rights of ownership over the vessel during an administration, including selling the vessel through judicial sale in the admiralty court.

  France

  Sale and charter back transaction

  Acting for a significant container ship owner in a large sale and charter back transaction involving complex French tax leases, chartering structures and second ranking security for investor groups

  France

  Charter Restructuring Agreement and payment obligations dispute

  Advising the owners of 8 vessels regarding a dispute over the rectification of a Charter Restructuring Agreement which altered the charterers' payment obligations under 8 long-term time charters

  Germany

  Financing the purchase of Germany's largest cruise ships

  Acting for a leading cruise ship owner as borrower in relation to financing the purchase of new build cruise vessels including the largest cruise ships to be built in Germany

  Germany

  Pursuing recovery for loss of cargo following collision

  Bahamian-flagged car carrier that sank in the North Sea after a collision with the Cyprus-registered container ship. (Loss amount USD 35 million)

  Germany

  'Piercing the corporate veil' - Fraudulent chartering scheme

  Successfully acting on a major London High Court case regarding the recovery of the proceeds of a fraudulent chartering scheme concerning the Latvian Shipping Company’s fleet of vessels. A new precedent was set on establishing English jurisdiction on the basis of piercing the corporate veil

  Latvia

  USD 575 million Norwegian bond issue

  Acting for Sea Trucks Group on the shipping matters relating to a USD 575 million Norwegian Bond issue, including the release of current financing and security for over 50 vessels registered in various jurisdictions which was recognised with a 2013 Deal Maker Of the Year Award by Finance Monthly magazine

  Norway

  Chemical tanker explosion

  Advising on the explosion within a chemical tanker after a gas injection into a void space from its cargo of naphtha caused structural damage from the fire and the death of a crewman, whilst off the coast of Lisbon

  Portugal

  Contract for a prototype vessel

  Advising on a contract for a prototype double-acting arctic container vessel for MMC Norilsk Nickel

  Russian Federation

  Financing of new build LNG carrier

  Representing major Spanish commercial interests in relation to the tax lease finance of a newbuild LNG carrier, and also advising on issues arising out of the Bareboat Charter, Conditional Sale, Master, and Put Option Agreements

  Spain
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