Marine casualty response

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.

Grounding of a gas tanker in a remote area

Acting for hull and machinery underwriters to agree a salvage plan and collect evidence to establish the cause of the grounding and evaluate risks under the cover.

Collision between a high speed passenger ferry and a bulk carrier in restricted visibility

Acting for hull and machinery underwriters to establish the cause of the collision and to evaluate claims for repair and replacement of damaged equipment.

Shipbuilding and offshore construction

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.

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.

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.

More: Shipbuilding and offshore construction

Marine and international trade

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 the Owners’ claim for general average 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.