Kennedys' UK maritime and international trade team provides assistance at each stage of the international business process, from drafting contracts or policies through to helping to resolve disputes. We have teams in London and in Belfast and work closely with our international counterparts in Hong Kong, Madrid, Miami and Singapore.
Our team are involved in:
- Wet shipping disputes - collisions, groundings, salvage, hull and machinery (H&M) claims, unsafe berth, personal injury/loss of life and general average
- Dry shipping disputes - charterparties, cargo claims, unsafe port or berth claims, protection and indemnity (P&I) cover, ship repair claims, underperformance claims and trade finance
- DSU cargo - we advise insurers on policy wording and coverage when they have insured a project against delay
- Offshore energy - we advise insurers on coverage issues arising out of the construction and operation of rigs, FSPOs and pipelines
- Trade/commodities - delivery of commodities under sale and purchase contracts primarily for chemicals, coal, minerals, metals, oil including crude and fuel oil
- Trade credit and political risk - policy drafting, coverage advice and subrogated recoveries
Our clients include insurers in Lloyd's and Company markets and overseas, P&I Clubs, shipowners, ship operators, terminal operators, freight forwarders and charterers.
With the insurance market positioned in the heart of our firm, we are uniquely placed to advise insurers and reinsurers to handle claims creatively, efficiently and cost effectively.
Work highlights
- Advised H&M Underwriters on security and the recovery of their costs for damage incurred as a result of a collision with another vessel in Johor Port, Singapore.
- Advised trade risk insurers following default of BTA Bank on claims arising under standby l/c exposures.
- Advised charterers on a USD $2 million liability to owners for alleged negligent stowage of a cargo of steel and a claim over the stevedores.
- Advised owners on charterers' non-payment of hire under the terms of the Charterparty, for an escort vessel with armed guards in the Gulf of Aden.
- Advised charterer's insurers in connection with bunker contamination claims affecting 20 vessels refuelled off The Ivory Coast.