Ship Sale, Purchase & Registration
Advising on vessel sale & purchase agreements (new and second-hand vessels), ensuring due diligence, compliance with flag state rules, warranties, delivery & condition clauses. Assisting with ship registration & change of flag, ensuring compliance with flag state requirements and registry formalities. Handling vessel mortgages, liens, security interests, and financing arrangements associated with ship transactions.
Charter Parties, Bills of Lading & Carriage Contracts
Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating charter party agreements (time-charter, voyage charter, demise charter), ensuring clarity on freight, demurrage, laytime, off-hire, liability, and force majeure. Advising on bills of lading, contract of affreightment and other carriage contracts: terms, endorsements, obligations, cargo claims, carrier liabilities. Ensuring consistency of documentation among owners, operators, shippers, freight forwarders, and insurers.
Marine Insurance, P&I, Hull & Machinery Claims
Analyzing marine insurance policy wordings: hull & machinery, protection & indemnity (P&I), cargo, war risk, etc.
Assisting in preparation of claims for damage, loss, liability, third-party risk, salvage cost, towage, wreck removal. Advising on insurer obligations and cross-party exposures (co-insurers, reinsurers), premium disputes, coverage exclusions.
Collisions, Salvage, General Average & Marine Casualties
Advising on liabilities arising from vessel collisions, allisions, and other sea casualties, including investigation of cause, apportionment of damage, and risk allocation. Claims and procedures for salvage operations, wreck removal, emergency response, obligations under salvage agreements. General average cases: determining contribution obligations of shipowners, cargo interests and establishing proper documentation.
Marine Pollution, Environmental Compliance & Regulatory Oversight
Navigating environmental and safety regulations: IMO conventions (MARPOL, SOLAS, Ballast Water Management), UAE environmental protection laws, port state inspection rules. Advice on pollution claims, oil spills, discharge violations, clean-up costs, liabilities, and regulatory reporting. Ensuring vessel operations comply with emission control areas, ballast water discharge, waste management, environmental permits.
Crew, Seafarer & Maritime Employment Issues
Advising on seafarer contracts, terms of employment for crew, wages, shore leave, repatriation, disciplinary matters.
Ensuring compliance with maritime labour conventions (MLC), health & safety obligations, insurance for personal injuries, welfare, accommodation. Assistance in claims for injury, illness, or death on board, exposure to unsafe conditions, medical evacuation where applicable.
Vessel Arrest, Detention & Liens
Legal advisory on arrest or detention of vessels (including port state control), coordination with relevant authorities.
Handling maritime liens and claims for unpaid repairs, port charges, salvage, towage, bunkers. Facilitation of release of seized or arrested vessels by securing guarantees, bonds, or counter security.
Contract Risk Management & Transaction Advisory
Drafting and negotiating contracts related to shipbuilding, repair, chartering, port terminal leases, marine supply, and logistics. Advising on risk allocation, warranties, performance guarantees, quality of workmanship, delivery timelines, specification compliance.
Due diligence for shipyards, charterers, shipowners, suppliers to assess contract health and enforceability.
Dispute Resolution & Arbitration in Maritime Matters
Advising on maritime arbitration clauses, choice of arbitration institution, seat of arbitration, governing law. Facilitation of negotiation, mediation, expert determination, or claim evaluation among maritime stakeholders before formal dispute escalates. Advising on enforcement of arbitration awards or maritime claims across jurisdictions and through relevant regulatory or administrative channels.
Regulatory, Licensing & Port Authority Compliance
Ensuring compliance with licensing regimes, registration obligations, flag state and port state rules, marine safety certificates. Liaison with UAE port authorities, coast guard, marine regulatory bodies, customs, environmental agencies.
Ensuring compliance with local maritime laws, free zone regulations, and international treaties adopted by the UAE.
