2018
Commercial Arbitration in Africa
Historically, most commercial arbitrations involving African parties have been resolved by non-African tribunals in places far from the African continent. As commercial disputes involving African parties have become more frequent, a new generation of arbitration institutes may result in an increase of arbitrations in Africa.
2018
New realities for LNG carrier time charters
In keeping pace with the changing sentiment and nature of the LNG sector, the traditional long term LNG time charter market is evolving and charter periods are becoming shorter. This trend has a number of commercial, financial and legal implications which we consider in this article.
2018
Risks of deliberately delaying discharge
A recent Commercial Court decision in Transgrain Shipping (Singapore) Pte Ltd -v- Yangtze Navigation (Hong Kong) Co Ltd [2016] EWHC 3132 (Comm), has held that a charterer is 100% responsible under the Inter-Club Agreement for damage to cargo arising from an order to the vessel to delay discharge until the receivers were able to pay for the cargo.
2018
Getting ready for the recovery
It has been a brutal few years in the shipping and offshore markets with over-capacity, declining demand and the dramatic fall in the oil price, all contributing to historically low charter rates and plummeting asset values. It is no wonder that owners and operators in these markets have adopted defensive strategies in recent years.
2018
Dismantling of offshore units
The number of offshore drilling and production units due to retire has grown substantially as a result of the reduction in drilling activity and the challenge of dismantling offshore units has become increasingly relevant for owners and operators. Cost, liability, selection of a recycling or scrapping yard, as well as corporate social responsibility, are just some of the considerations an owner needs to bear in mind when considering scrapping offshore units.
Shipping Offshore, Maritime and Offshore Emergency Response
2018
Wreck removal in China
When a ship has reached the end of its life, the owners are inevitably faced with the decision of how to dispose of it in a manner that is both commercially viable and environmentally sustainable. The controversial practice of beaching vessels in low cost countries has spurred initiatives to tighten regulations on the recycling of ships. In the following pages we look at the current legal framework as well as what is to come.
2018
Recycling of ships – what is the legal status?
When a ship has reached the end of its life, the owners are inevitably faced with the decision of how to dispose of it in a manner that is both commercially viable and environmentally sustainable. The controversial practice of beaching vessels in low cost countries has spurred initiatives to tighten regulations on the recycling of ships. In the following pages we look at the current legal framework as well as what is to come.
Shipping Offshore, Maritime and Offshore Emergency Response
2018
“Server” – landmark judgment of the Supreme Court on wreck removal
The Norwegian Supreme Court has in a recent judgment in the “Server” case clarified a number of unsettled issues that will have an impact on other wreck removal cases, including whether the owners can use their right to limit liability as a defence against a wreck removal order. Wikborg Rein acts for the vessel’s owners, managers and P&I insurers.