Marine, Energy and Ports
We have a dedicated team of specialists handing all aspects of marine related activity. Our team is considered to be “first-rate” and “adaptable and innovative”. We are members of the British Ports’ Association, the London Maritime Arbitrators’ Association, the UK Harbour Masters’ Association and the Scottish Shipping Benevolent Association.
Contact: David Gibson, Partner (Transactional) dbg@bto.co.uk and Mark Morton, Partner (Disputes) macm@bto.co.uk / T. 0141 221 8012
Experience
- Collisions, salvage and vessel arrestment
Recent cases include collision damage to port infrastructure as a result of mooring issues; vessel arrestment involving advising on the terms of letters of undertaking and salvage incidents in the North Sea.
- Contractual claims
Expertise extends from charterparty disputes involving off-hire clauses to offshore matters, including those related to drilling and production facilities in the North Sea and issues arising under LOGIC and bespoke contracts.
- Construction & Engineering
Experienced in marine related construction, engineering and infrastructure projects including contract negotiation and disputes, arbitration and mediation processes. We have defended cases involving complex specialist liability issues, including dredging operations in ports, and property damage involving maritime related civil engineering design.
- Transactional
Specialists advise on commercial, statutory, contractual and property issues relating to ports, harbours and shipping. We have handled port and harbour development, construction and engineering contracts, sea bed and foreshore leases, property management, renewable energy, planning, environmental, licensing, commercial contracts and finance. We have experience of dealing with harbour revision orders and harbour empowerment orders and other regulatory issues.
- Employment
Accredited specialists help navigate employment issues and resolve disputes specific to the marine and shipping sectors.
- Health & Safety and Regulatory
Specialist team regularly deals with on site investigations, attendance at MCA, HSE and Police interviews and prosecutions. Recent experience includes representing clients in relation to fatalities and serious injuries on UK supply vessels, fishing vessels, fish farm vessels and work boats, as well as advising a port in relation to proceedings brought under environmental legislation.
- Transport
Expertise in dealing with disputes arising from the carriage of goods by road, sea and air, including cargo claims, recoveries and warehousing. We have particular expertise in fire claims, defective products and cases involving the application of standard terms and conditions.
- Casualty and offshore incidents:
Regularly deal with slips and trips, catastrophic injuries, industrial disease and have handled accidents involving crew, passengers, stevedores and off-shore employees.
- Professional Indemnity
Claims against professionals across the spectrum of marine, energy and transport related activities, including marine surveyors and engineers, rig builders, naval architects, project managers, brokers and oil and gas consultants. Also deal with directors' and officers' liability and offer expert advice and training on loss prevention and risk management with the aim of avoiding claims arising in the first place.
- Insurance
Market leading expertise in providing advice on a wide range of policy coverage matters specific to the marine and shipping sector.