Maritime

We have built a deep industry knowledge over a number of years working with stakeholders across the industry, allowing us to genuinely understand your business and provide straightforward, practical legal advice that is tailored to your needs.

Our client base includes many of the world’s leading shipowners, charterers, traders, banks, shipyards and insurers. From shipyard to scrapyard, from factory to receiver, from finance to flotation, we provide the legal services required by the maritime and international trade industries.

  • We routinely deal with cargo claims, charterparty and bills of lading disputes, and handle all aspects of shipping dispute resolution, from small value claims to high profile, complex, multi-jurisdictional disputes.

  • Our expertise extends to providing legal advice on transactional issues, covering all aspects from commercial contract review of simple and complex contractual relationships, ship sale and purchase, shipbuilding projects, and restructuring.

  • Ships are significant capital assets. Whether you are a buyer, builder, operator or financer, you will need expert advice on your rights and liabilities. Our lawyers are mainstream shipping lawyers who will provide comprehensive advice on the best strategies, minimising your risk exposure during transactions and achieving the best result for your business.

  • Yachts and super yachts are valuable assets which are subject to changing laws and regulations. It is essential that you have someone to help who understands your goals, and protects your interests at every stage of ownership. We advise yacht owners, brokers and some of the world’s largest yacht manufacturers.

  • Ports play a crucial role in global trade, both in developed and in emerging and frontier markets and our team advises clients including regional and global port and terminal operators, shipping lines, oil & gas contractors, construction companies, underwriters and banks around the world.

  • We also represent the leading providers of marine services. Our expertise extends to the full range of available offshore services, including supply and safety vessels, anchor handlers and dive support, pipe-lay and bury barges, heavy lift and derrick barges.

  • Our breadth of expertise in handling defendant personal injury cases extends across the marine industry with instructions from owners, operators and liability underwriters of marine craft including yachts / superyachts, container vessels, passenger and cruise ships, offshore installations, tugs and supply vessels, and bulk carriers.

    The firm's reputation for handling high profile casualties has inevitably led to Ince & Co Middle East advising in highly sensitive cases involving both injury and death. We work closely with specialist Counsel and medical experts to provide the highest level of service and most cost-effective advice.

  • The ongoing threat of piracy and hijackings continue to generate much concern in the industry. We can help you with all aspects of piracy incidents - the legal and practical aspects of responding to a hijacking, release of vessels, insurance and minimising the risk of such incidents reoccurring.

    If oil leaks from your ship and pollutes pristine beaches or marine life, the consequences can be very serious. The incident needs to be managed effectively, or it can spell disaster for everyone involved.

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Related articles

News & insighhts
New UAE Maritime Law: Exploring Ship Agencies
New UAE Maritime Law: Exploring Ship Agencies

In the wake of the recent publication of the new UAE Maritime Law (the “New Maritime Law”), we continue our journey to dissect the nuances of the new Maritime Law.

New UAE Maritime Law: An insight into the overhaul of Ship Arrest in the UAE
New UAE Maritime Law: An insight into the overhaul of Ship Arrest in the UAE

The recently issued Federal Law No. 43 of 2023 concerning the Maritime Law (the “New Maritime Law”), repeals and replaces UAE Federal Law No. 26 of 1981 (as amended) (the “Old Maritime Law”).

SAMA issues the Marine Insurance Coverages Instructions
SAMA issues the Marine Insurance Coverages Instructions

The Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) has recently issued the Marine Insurance Coverage Instructions (the Instructions) which were drafted in collaboration with the Transport General Authority for developing a regulatory framework for mandatory marine insurance coverage and for setting minimum limits for coverage and benefits.

KSA Special Economic Zones (SEZs)
KSA Special Economic Zones (SEZs)

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has been actively pursuing economic diversification for investors to do business in the Kingdom.

The Third Party Litigation Funding Law Review Sixth Edition Contribution from UAE Partners
The Third Party Litigation Funding Law Review Sixth Edition Contribution from UAE Partners

Mohamed El Hawawy, Joint Managing Partner, and Natalie Jensen, Partner, from our Dubai office, have contributed the UAE chapter to the recently published Sixth Edition of the Third Party Litigation Funding Law Review.

Mohamed El Hawawy and Alastair Holland interview featured in Maritime Standard UAE Yearbook 2022/23
Mohamed El Hawawy and Alastair Holland interview featured in Maritime Standard UAE Yearbook 2022/23

In a recent interview with The Maritime Standard, Joint Managing Partners Mohamed El Hawawy and Alastair Holland discuss what has been keeping our Dubai team busy over the last year and the diversity of our workload.

Taking a closer look at the biggest factors driving the progress of the UAE’s maritime sector
Taking a closer look at the biggest factors driving the progress of the UAE’s maritime sector

As we move past the vertex of a U-shaped dip in the global shipping sector caused by supply chain restrictions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is worthwhile to look back at the UAE maritime industry’s growth, lessons learned, and development outlook.

Agreement for existing DIFC-LCIA arbitrations to be administered by LCIA
Agreement for existing DIFC-LCIA arbitrations to be administered by LCIA

Decree No. 34 of 2021 concerning the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (the ‘Decree’) came into force in September 2021 and aimed to streamline arbitration in Dubai by amalgamating it under one institution – the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (‘DIAC’).

Meet the Seatrade Maritime 20 Under 40: Leader of Tomorrow – Natalie Jensen
Meet the Seatrade Maritime 20 Under 40: Leader of Tomorrow – Natalie Jensen

We are delighted to announce that Natalie Jensen, Partner from our office has been recognised as a 20 under 40 winner, announced on Tuesday 14 December!

“Zoned out”: Court confirms applicable time zone for notification of demurrage claims
“Zoned out”: Court confirms applicable time zone for notification of demurrage claims

The Court has confirmed that, in the absence of express provision in a voyage charterparty stating how time should be computed in calculating the period for the notification of demurrage claims, the local time and date at the place of discharge determines the date of completion of discharge.

New DIAC Decree aims to streamline arbitration in Dubai: Your questions answered
New DIAC Decree aims to streamline arbitration in Dubai: Your questions answered

Decree No. 34 of 2021 concerning the Dubai International Arbitration Centre recently came into force, making a number of changes to the arbitration landscape in Dubai. We seek to answer a number of important questions here.

Consolidation of Dubai’s arbitration centres - The impact on maritime arbitration in the region
Consolidation of Dubai’s arbitration centres - The impact on maritime arbitration in the region

Decree No. (34) of 2021 (“the Decree”) on the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (“DIAC”) was recently issued.

Resolution to safeguard seafarers in the UAE
Resolution to safeguard seafarers in the UAE

The UAE is a shipping hub and, as a result, it is a jurisdiction that has experienced its fair share of abandoned vessels and crew. There have been a number of positive developments in addressing such issues.

Buyer not entitled to reject off-specification fuel oil
Buyer not entitled to reject off-specification fuel oil

Galtrade Limited v. BP Oil International Limited [2021] EWHC 1796 (Comm). In considering a buyer’s claim for wasted expenditure relating to a cargo of off-specification low sulphur straight run fuel oil (“SRFO”), the Court found that the Buyer was not entitled to reject the cargo and was, therefore, in repudiatory breach of contract.

English Court upholds LOU jurisdiction provision, notwithstanding Singapore limitation proceedings
English Court upholds LOU jurisdiction provision, notwithstanding Singapore limitation proceedings

Enemalta Plc v. Standard Club Asia Ltd (MV Di Matteo) [2021] EWHC 1215 (Comm). The English Court has dismissed a P&I Club’s challenge to its jurisdiction.

A distinction with a difference: Court of Appeal finds conflict between contractual terms
A distinction with a difference: Court of Appeal finds conflict between contractual terms

When reporting last year on the Commercial Court judgment in this case, we commented that it is common in commodity contracts for the parties to agree their main commercial terms in a recap and then to refer to and incorporate industry standard terms in order to complete the contractual arrangements. The challenge then is how to interpret the resulting contract.

Court considers unclear dispute resolution clause in charterparty
Court considers unclear dispute resolution clause in charterparty

Armada Ship Management(s) Pte Ltd v. Schiste Oil and Gas Nigeria Ltd (Armada Tuah 101) [2021] EWHC 1094 (Comm). In this case, the dispute resolution clause in the charterparty was unclear because of the manner in which amendments had been made to its standard terms.

Court discharges freezing order in unsubstantiated misdelivery claim
Court discharges freezing order in unsubstantiated misdelivery claim

Fimbank PLC v. Discover Investment Corp (Nika, renamed Nord) [2020] EWHC 254 (Comm). The Court has discharged a freezing order that was originally granted on an ex parte basis.