Marine insurance
Stranding in China
Advising hull and machinery underwriters on liability under the policy for the total loss of a vessel on a scrapping voyage. Advising on strategy for managing demands from the local authorities for access to crew and security for undefined claims.
Theft of cargo of gasoil
Investigation into an attack on product tanker by pirates. Advising cargo underwriters on tracing and recovery of the stolen cargo.
Machinery breakdown
Advising hull and machinery underwriters following the breakdown of multiple engines due to the use of dirty lube oil.
Liability for escape of toxic fumes
Advising port and liability underwriters on claims arising from the release of toxic fumes from a damaged container, leading to a number of casualties. This matter involved co-ordinating legal opinions from the jurisdiction of the incident, and the law governing the policy, and advising on settlement.
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Marine insurance
P&I clubs
Container ship fires
Acting for owners, charterers and P&I insurers in large container ship fires, including enforcing owners’ lien for collection of general average security from multiple contributing interests in various jurisdictions. Collecting evidence in the early stages of the casualty and managing contractual and non-contractual disputes arising.
Gas tanker explosions
Acting for P&I insurers in explosions on board loaded gas tankers. Managing the initial investigation and handling the charterparty disputes which followed, together with salvage claims and tortious claims from various affected parties.
Damage to subsea cable
Advising P&I insurers in a claim for damage to a subsea control cable for a satellite platform. Issues included limitation, interaction of vessel and field policies and conflict of laws.
Claim for damages arising from supply of off-spec bunkers
Advising owner clients and P&I insurers on their claim against charterers arising from the supply of off-spec bunkers, co-ordinating the evidence (including contradictory analyses) and negotiating settlement.
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P&I clubs
Offshore
Premature failure of a novel production system
Advising underwriters on coverage and evidence gathering in a US$1 billion claim following the accelerated fatigue of the leg structure of a production platform.
Damage to subsea cable
Advising P&I insurers in a claim for damage to a subsea control cable for a satellite platform. Issues included limitation, interaction of vessel and field policies and conflict of laws.
Cost overruns in the construction of a compliant piled tower
Advising builders in a claim by sub-contractors arising from design change and development in a novel-design production platform.
Total loss of vessel during anchor handling operations
Acting for owners and their defence club following the total loss of an anchor handling tug during rigmoving operations in the North Atlantic. Advice included consideration of liabilities under an amended knock for knock clause and issues arising from a potential wreck removal order in a deepwater location.
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Offshore
Shipowners and operators
Container ship fires
Acting for owners, charterers and P&I insurers in large container ship fires, including enforcing owners’ lien for collection of general average security from multiple contributing interests in various jurisdictions. Collecting evidence in the early stages of the casualty and managing contractual and non-contractual disputes arising.
Gas tanker explosions
Acting for P&I insurers in explosions on board loaded gas tankers. Managing the initial investigation and handling the charterparty disputes which followed, together with salvage claims and tortious claims from various affected parties.
Failure to meet contractual deadweight capacity
Advising owners following delivery of a luxury passenger ship with a significant deadweight deficiency. This matter involved liaising with naval architects to establish the hydrostatic characteristics of the vessel “as built” and establishing the measure of damages arising from deviation from the agreed drawings.
Damage to subsea cable
Advising P&I insurers in a claim for damage to a subsea control cable for a satellite platform. Issues included limitation, interaction of vessel and field policies and conflict of laws.
Grounding followed by a claim for general average contributions
Acting for owners and hull and machinery underwriters in the grounding of a general cargo vessel. Managing the execution of the WRECKHIRE for the salvage operation, settling the salvage claim and managing owners’ claim for GA contributions.
Claim for cost overruns in major construction project
Managing claims and counterclaims arising from the early termination of a contract for shipping spoil in a major tunnelling project. This matter required resolving the interaction between standard form construction contracts and bespoke shipping contracts, often on conflicting terms.
Claim for damages arising from supply of off-spec bunkers
Advising owner clients and P&I insurers on their claim against charterers arising from the supply of off-spec bunkers, co-ordinating the evidence (including contradictory analyses) and negotiating settlement.
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Shipowners and operators