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  • Shipping disputes and contracts

    Day to day shipping involves understanding the allocation of risk between the various stakeholders. Often disputes arise when that risk allocation is misunderstood and we have a wide range of real-world experience to make sure that you understand the legal consequences of short term decision making. Our aim is to help to resolve disputes without damaging important commercial relationships.
    Learn more

  • Admiralty

    We have handled many high profile casualties including groundings in sensitive waterways, fires, collisions as well as hijackings and kidnappings. We fully understand the issues that arise such as pollution, GA and transhipment of cargo. It is critical that the risk that you have taken on is insured. We have particular experience in advising on insurance issues in complex environments and war zones where vessels are captured or seized by local military or law enforcement agencies.Whatever your role in the oil or offshore industry we can provide advice in both contentious and non-contentious matters.
    Learn more

  • Piracy and security

    The world does not get any safer and it is difficult not to transit across waters where coastal states are subject to internal conflict and where your vessels are not potentially exposed to collateral damage from attacks by warring factions or criminal gangs.

    Learn more

  • Marine insurance

    Whatever your role in a maritime venture you will want to make sure that your commercial risk is insured. We provide contentious and advisory services to all stakeholders.

    Learn more

  • Offshore

    Whether you are an oil, drilling, or service company or an insurer we are experienced in reviewing contracts and in dispute resolution.

    Learn more

  • International trade

    When goods are delayed or their condition differs from what is expected, parties to sale contracts need on the spot advice as to what can and can’t be done against the counterparty and possibly against a transport provider, and as to what practical and legal steps to take to minimise exposure and to secure the best possible recovery.

    Learn more

  • Aviation

    We fly high! Aviation lawyers with an intimate understanding of the industry, and an approach that prioritises speed, straight talking and flexibility. Providing solutions that work for you.

    Learn more
  1. Shipping disputes and contracts
  2. Admiralty
  3. Piracy and security
  4. Marine insurance
  5. Offshore
  6. International trade
  7. Aviation
Shipping disputes and contracts

Shipping disputes and contracts

Day to day shipping involves understanding the allocation of risk between the various stakeholders. Often disputes arise when that risk allocation is misunderstood and we have a wide range of real-world experience to make sure that you understand the legal consequences of short term decision making. Our aim is to help to resolve disputes without damaging important commercial relationships.
Learn more
Admiralty

Admiralty

We have handled many high profile casualties including groundings in sensitive waterways, fires, collisions as well as hijackings and kidnappings. We fully understand the issues that arise such as pollution, GA and transhipment of cargo. It is critical that the risk that you have taken on is insured. We have particular experience in advising on insurance issues in complex environments and war zones where vessels are captured or seized by local military or law enforcement agencies.Whatever your role in the oil or offshore industry we can provide advice in both contentious and non-contentious matters.
Learn more
Piracy and security

Piracy and security

The world does not get any safer and it is difficult not to transit across waters where coastal states are subject to internal conflict and where your vessels are not potentially exposed to collateral damage from attacks by warring factions or criminal gangs.

Learn more
Marine insurance

Marine insurance

Whatever your role in a maritime venture you will want to make sure that your commercial risk is insured. We provide contentious and advisory services to all stakeholders.

Learn more
Offshore

Offshore

Whether you are an oil, drilling, or service company or an insurer we are experienced in reviewing contracts and in dispute resolution.

Learn more
International trade

International trade

When goods are delayed or their condition differs from what is expected, parties to sale contracts need on the spot advice as to what can and can’t be done against the counterparty and possibly against a transport provider, and as to what practical and legal steps to take to minimise exposure and to secure the best possible recovery.

Learn more
Aviation

Aviation

We fly high! Aviation lawyers with an intimate understanding of the industry, and an approach that prioritises speed, straight talking and flexibility. Providing solutions that work for you.

Learn more

Latest knowledge

All knowledge
NEWS & KNOWLEDGE

The Eternal Bliss [2020] – Is demurrage an owner’s exclusive remedy for a charterer exceeding laytime?

In The Eternal Bliss Mr Justice Baker decided it was not, holding that if (as is usual) the charterparty is silent as to what type of losses the demurrage rate compensates, then demurrage should not be interpreted as an exclusive remedy and an owner may seek to recover additional losses on top. The reasoning To […]

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ship aground
LOF – claims by dispossessed salvors   »

In February 1977 a vessel in ballast, Unique Mariner, ran aground in Indonesian waters not far from Singapore.  The master was advised by ship’s agents that a tug would be sourced. A professional salvor’s tug turned up from Singapore and the master mistakenly thinking that it was the tug procured by the agents, signed Lloyd’s […]
Amy
Tatham & Co is delighted to welcome Amy O’Connor to the firm as a Senior Associate   »

Amy O’Connor is an aviation and shipping lawyer with broad experience in litigation, transactional and regulatory matters in these industries, as well as insolvency litigation. Simon Tatham, Senior Partner, comments: Amy O’Connor joining the team as a senior solicitor is consistent with our strategy of growing the firm with experienced and capable people and developing practice areas […]
Crew fatigue
Crew fatigue during a global pandemic and the repercussions on vessels’ seaworthiness   »

Fatigue is commonly described as a state of feeling weary, tired, or lethargic that results from prolonged physical or mental work, extended periods of anxiety, exposure to harsh environments, or loss of sleep. It is different to simple tiredness through missed sleep. With up to 400,000 crew stranded either at sea or at home by […]
NEWS & KNOWLEDGE

Covid 19 – Force Majeure voyage disruption under TOWCON and UK Standard Conditions for Towage

In this article published in Tug Technology and Business we set ourselves the premise that a tug and tow have been prevented from reaching the agreed destination, because of disruption caused by Covid-19. We consider the potential effects of this delay briefly in the context of The UK Standard Conditions for Towage, of ad hoc […]

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TOWCON 2008 and the coronavirus   »

On 11 March 2020 the World Health Organisation designated the Covid 19 virus as a pandemic. We have since received a number of enquiries specifically about where the parties to a TOWCON 2008 contract stand in respect of Clause 27 . This slightly odd clause combines a war risk clause with, effectively, a force majeure […]

Featured case studies

All case studies

Grounding and T/L in Brazil – caution needed when taking on Uncle Sam

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Trading to Yemen

We have particularly good experience in dealing with vessels caught up in complex environments made difficult or dangerous by war, geo-political issues or simply a capricious judicial system.

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West Africa – Anatomy of a Kidnapping

There is anecdotal evidence that the gangs operating off West Africa (and it remains the case that most kidnappings are carried out by Nigerian gangs) have become more sophisticated. It is believed that attacks are carried out by one gang and the victims then “sold” to another who carry out the negotiations.

VIEW THE CASE STUDY