Legalseas

Legal and market updates from our maritime lawyers around the world

Our shipping law insights provide legal and market commentary, addressing the key questions and topics of interest to our clients operating in the shipping industry, helping them to effectively manage risk.

The knowledge of our global shipping lawyers encompasses every aspect of shipping law, including admiralty and marine-related matters. We provide the information charterers, marine insurance providers, ship financiers and shipowners need in order to navigate the changes and challenges facing the industry, including new environmental regulations and ship safety standards, the latest developments in shipping finance, and the move towards digitalization.

Recent insights

Lessons from <em>Chugga Chugg v Privinvest</em>: Renunciation and guarantee classification

Lessons from Chugga Chugg v Privinvest: Renunciation and guarantee classification

The judgment of Chugga Chugg Pty Ltd v Privinvest Holding SAL [2025] EWHC 585 (Comm) discusses important issues concerning renunciation and the classification of guarantees as instruments of primary or secondary liability.

Global | Publication | June 25, 2025

Hague Rules remain “Paramount” in the face of inconsistent contractual provisions: “The Alion”

Where the Hague or Hague Visby Rules have been contractually incorporated into a bill of lading but conflict with other contractual provisions under that same bill, which regime should take priority? The Rules, said the Commercial Court in Tanga Pharmaceuticals Plastics Limited & Ors v Emirates Shipping Line FZE (The Alion) [2025] EWHC 368 (Comm).

Global | Publication | June 03, 2025

USTR announces significant fees on Chinese and other vessels

On April 17, the Office of the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) released its Notice of Action and Proposed Action in Section 301 Investigation of China’s Targeting the Maritime, Logistics and Shipbuilding Sectors for Dominance, Request for Comments (the Notice).

Global | Publication | April 21, 2025

<em>Hapag-Lloyd v Skyros</em>: Calculation of loss (if any) caused by charterers late redelivery

Hapag-Lloyd v Skyros: Calculation of loss (if any) caused by charterers late redelivery

Despite the late redelivery of the vessels at a time when the market rate was higher than the charter rate, the Commercial Court held, on appeal from two arbitration awards dealing with the same preliminary issue, that the owners were only entitled to recover nominal damages from the charterer, and not substantial damages.

Global | Publication | March 04, 2025

A new year ahead for shipping – environmental and regulatory compliance

Much like 2024, 2025 will be a further period of huge change and challenge for all participants in the shipping industry.

Global | Publication | January 24, 2025

Paying the Price: Court of Appeal holds debt still due when non-fulfilment of a condition precedent is caused by the buyer’s own breach

We consider the King Crude Carriers SA & Ors v Ridgebury November LLC & Ors judgment.

Global | Publication | December 18, 2024

Can a charterer procure the release of a laden vessel arrested by a mortgagee bank?

As previously observed, conflicts occasionally arise between mortgagees and charterers where a mortgagee wishes to take prompt action to enforce its rights, but the charterer wishes such enforcement action to be deferred until the end of the charter.

Global | Publication | December 05, 2024

FuelEU Maritime

The EU’s regulation on the FuelEU Maritime Initiative (FEUM) is due to come into force in January 2025. FEUM is part of a bundle of environmental measures introduced by the EU, known as “Fit for 55, and is designed to accelerate the decarbonisation of the maritime industry by applying an increasingly stringent set of targets supported by financial penalties for non-compliance, which it is hoped will increase demand for (and use of) renewable and low-carbon maritime fuels and decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the maritime sector.

Global | Publication | October 03, 2024