Maritime & Shipping

• Carriage of goods and cargo claims. We advise on bills of lading, carrier liability, defenses, limitation and time bars under the Commercial Maritime Law. We act on cargo loss, damage and delay claims, and make sure notices are served within the strict periods the law sets.
• Ship arrest and security. We apply for and resist arrests before the Saudi Commercial Courts for maritime debts. We also advise on maritime liens and P&I letters of undertaking.
• Charterparties and shipping contracts. We draft, negotiate and enforce voyage, time and bareboat charters, including laytime, demurrage, hire and off-hire disputes. We review terms for Sharia compliance, particularly interest and penalty-type clauses.
• Ship registration, licensing and finance. We handle vessel registration and navigation licensing with the Transport General Authority. We also advise on ship sale and purchase, mortgages and flag changes.
• Maritime disputes and casualties. We act on collision, salvage, general average and other incidents before the Saudi courts and in international arbitration, including LMAA proceedings.
• Regulatory, customs and sanctions compliance. We advise on compliance with IMO conventions in force in the Kingdom, GCC customs administered by ZATCA, and SAMA marine insurance requirements. We also screen vessels, cargo and counterparties for sanctions risk.
• Seafarers and maritime employment. We advise on crew contracts, wage claims and maritime liens under Saudi labor and maritime law.

The same claim can come out differently in a Saudi court than in an English court or a London arbitration. We help clients choose the governing law, forum and liability regime at the drafting stage, and choose where to bring claims or arrest a vessel early in a dispute.

• Defending a ship owner and manager against a SAR 34.6 million Red Sea oil pollution claim brought by a Saudi environmental authority.
• Acting for the operator of a major LNG import terminal in a USD 500 million LCIA arbitration over a state-owned purchaser's early termination, including securing emergency arbitrator relief.
• Defending an LNG terminal operator against an international commodity trader's USD 100 million claim to exclusive regasification capacity.
• Successfully recovering SAR 1.5 million in unpaid rent and leased tanks for an international tank container lessor against a Saudi marine transport operator.
• Representing a foreign pipe manufacturer in a USD 26.9 million SCCA arbitration over marine corrosion damage to delivered pipes seated in London.