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Maritime Disputes

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Our work covers the full spectrum of shipping disputes, whether in Court proceedings, arbitration or mediation, including:

  • Charterparty disputes: delivery and redelivery, off-hire, laytime and demurrage, bunker quantities and specifications, oil major approvals, vessel’s speed and consumption, hold cleaning, cargo and trading restrictions, damage to hull, machinery and engines, unsafe ports, frustration and force majeure, non-payment of hire and repudiation, exercise of liens, hull fouling, cargo indemnity claims including issues with lost, switched or fraudulent bills of lading, personal injury and death claims and dangerous cargo.
  • Bill of lading disputes: quality / quantity of cargo, misdelivery, cargo loss, damage and shortage in respect of individual claim as well as representing the market in large casualties. The work often involves related issues such as claims arising in multimodal transit including rail, truck, air and warehousing / storage, as well as drafting terms and conditions for carriers.
  • Shipbuilding, ship repair, subcontractor disputes, performance and refund guarantees, and ship sale and purchase.
  • Marine casualty, including collisions, salvage, general average, total loss, piracy, fire and explosion, stability, liquefaction, pollution, towage and wreck removal.
  • Brokerage and brokers’ liability.
  • Ship management, including contractual disputes relating to duties and obligation, unpaid fees and disbursements, crewing issues and employment contracts, termination of agreement and drafting ship management contracts.

CMS has a high-calibre team in the shipping field, which is well regarded for its shipping litigation practice. Noted for a particular strength in damages and cargo disputes, including ship arrests. Also advises clients on the contentious shipping issues arising out of transactions and restructuring procedures. Further noted for its growing expertise in sale and leaseback transactions. Handles work for ship owners, charterers, insurers and P&I clubs, and financial leasing companies.

Chambers Greater China, 2022

CMS provides a ‘client-focused‘ service to freight forwarders, P&I clubs, port terminals and cargo interests, among others. It has a notable strength in shipping litigation and arbitration, and is extremely active in ship arrest matters. [The team] is highlighted for its ability to find ‘extremely innovative ways to obtain the best results for clients’.

Legal 500, 2022
30/01/2019
Highlights of our experience in Maritime Disputes
PRC charterers in successfully defending a claim for provision of security under the NYPE Inter-Club agreement (reported as London Arbitration 18/18). Various cargo interests with claims totalling over...