The continuing high level of new building orders, increased yard efficiency, ever more demanding delivery targets and development of new yards are all drivers to the expansion of our own shipbuilding and ship repair practice.
Strong internationally, we have major building and repairing capabilities in our offices in the UK, Paris, China, Singapore and Dubai. “Commentators particularly flag up the team’s work in the Asian market” – we lead the field in work for Korean owners, operators and shipyards. Our core client-base of shipowners in Japan and shipbuilders and ship operators in Korea has accumulated from decades of experience. We are increasing our client-base in China, one of the youngest ship-building nations.
Our preference is for shipbuilder, repairer and owner clients to view us as partners. Our expertise covers all aspects of:
- Contract drafting and negotiation (including LNG, LPG and FPSO)
- Novation agreements, tax lease finance agreements
- Refund guarantees, performance guarantees and warranty bonds
- Early/late performance bonuses
- Option agreements
- Procurement of finance
- Repair yard liens
- Shipbuilders risk insurance
- Warranty claims
- Personal injury, death of buyers’ representatives
In our experience clients prefer to resolve differences practically and commercially. Our philosophy is to find commercial solutions – we view legal proceedings as a last resort.
Recent work includes:
- Defending a shipyard in the Far East against claims arising from the construction of a series of offshore support/supply vessels, and advising on a contract for a prototype double-acting arctic container vessel for MMC Norilisk Nickel
- Advising a shipbuilder on potential responsibilities of liabilities re fire fighting equipment following class warning as to adequacy of fire fighting foam
- Advising shipbuilder on implications for construction of LPG vessels, when the main gas membrane technology licence holder introduced amendments to manner bonding of containment system
- In relation to an FPSO advising a shipbuilder on the handling of warranty claims and threats made by the buyer to draw down against on demand performance guarantees