Fortior law https://fortiorlaw.com/news/laytime-and-demurrage/ specialize in handling a broad spectrum of maritime law issues, covering both contentious and non-contentious matters. Our expertise includes advising on and drafting charter parties, riders, and standard shipping terms. Over the years, we've successfully resolved numerous disputes related to issues such as unpaid freight, cargo liens imposed by shipowners, demurrage claims, damages arising from detention, speed and consumption disputes, deviations from contractual terms, seaworthiness challenges, misdelivery cases, and other claims arising under bills of lading.
Our legal team represents clients in various maritime arbitration forums, including LMAA and ad hoc proceedings, as well as appearing in the High Court of London for litigation matters. We have a strong track record of assisting clients in vessel arrests across multiple jurisdictions, including Georgia, Bulgaria, Malta, the Netherlands, and Turkey, in support of their maritime claims. Additionally, we have experience in arresting cargoes held in storage facilities in different regions.
Here are a few examples of our recent work:
- Handling an LMAA arbitration involving claims for detention damages due to a vessel's detention by a state security service, addressing cargo lien issues and the reasonableness of proposed mitigation measures.
- Managing ad hoc arbitrations concerning payment disputes totaling nearly US$8 million for several vessels.
- Representing clients in an SCC arbitration valued at US$5 million concerning hire payment disputes, along with claims for deviation damages, increased consumption costs, seaworthiness issues, and the necessary steps to mitigate damages after an allegedly unlawful termination of a charter.
- Addressing an ad hoc arbitration concerning shipowners' refusal to proceed to the Ukrainian port of Odesa due to insurance issues. The charterers argued that the shipowners' failure to secure insurance did not absolve them of their obligation under the charter, noting that the shipowners were aware of the risks and circumstances when the charter was executed. This breach resulted in damages to third parties and additional storage costs for the charterers.
