Practice areas
Shipping: Shipbuilding & ship conversion
In addition to our work in the offshore construction sector, the firm has an international reputation for shipbuilding and ship conversion. Our Senior Partner, Simon Curtis, is the author of the leading textbook on shipbuilding contract law, "The Law of Shipbuilding Contracts (Third Edition)" published by LLP, and the firm is continuously involved in a wide range of newbuilding transactions and disputes.
We represent shipowners, shipyards and financiers and work in all of the major shipbuilding sectors, from small tugs and supply vessels to the largest and most advanced passenger ferry and cruise vessels - we acted, for example, for the French shipbuilder of the "Queen Mary II", at that time the world's largest passenger vessel, in all aspects of the negotiation of the contracts for this vessel. Similarly, our dispute resolution team was instructed in 2003 by a major Singaporean shipyard to take over from a City of London firm the conduct of the "SOLITAIRE" pipelay barge conversion project, which had generated the largest and longest running marine arbitration ever conducted in London - this dispute was settled in early 2006.
Much of our work involves newbuilding projects in Europe and Northern Asia (in particular Japan and Korea) and the conversion of existing vessels in South-East Asia, particularly Singapore and Malaysia. Reflecting that nation's extraordinary growth in the sector in recent years, we have developed a particular expertise in relation to the construction of new ships in China. Our acclaimed specialist booklet, "Purchasing Newbuildings in China", produced in conjunction with French shipbrokers, Barry Rogliano Salles, is the first specialist legal publication to respond to the growing emergence of China as a major force in world shipbuilding.
Our extensive understanding of shipbuilding markets and trends, coupled with an unparalleled knowledge of shipbuilding contract law, enables us to ensure that our clients' contracts are negotiated and concluded at minimal cost, within tight deadlines and on the basis of a realistic and balanced allocation of the commercial and technical risks inherent in all newbuilding and conversion projects. Our approach is always constructive and realistic - our partners and associates are first class negotiators who understand our clients' newbuilding and conversion needs and the commercial and market framework in which these are to be achieved.
Our transactional and dispute resolution teams work closely together in this sector, both before and after the shipbuilding or conversion contract has been concluded. We support our clients throughout the project to delivery/completion and beyond in resolving any disputes that may arise over cost overruns, delays or defects arising prior to or following delivery.
