Shipping, Aviation and Logistics
According to Chambers Bowmans is a shipping law powerhouse servicing P&I clubs, charterers, owners and banks on an array of wet and dry work.
- Overview
For over a century, we have met the demands of the industry by providing shipping and logistics services to our extensive range of local and international clients. For our comprehensive Aviation service offering, click here.
Our lawyers have been involved in many of the most significant local casualties over the past two decades, recently including the collisions involving the “Chemstar Jewel” and the “Sunrise Jade”, the fires aboard the “Tai Shan” and the “Maersk Londrina”, the sinking of the “Kiani Satu”, the grounding of the “Smart” and the loss of containers overboard the “Seroja Lima”.
In addition to our casualty work, we regularly conduct litigation to enforce maritime claims on behalf of our clients. Recently we represented the successful appellant in the “Seaspan Grouse” before the Supreme Court of Appeal, in a matter concerning the status of protective writs under South African law and following from the financial collapse of Hanjin Shipping. We also successfully concluded the hearing of a commodities quality dispute that had been referred to arbitration before the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA). The matter involved two hearings, one of which was held in person in London and the other virtually across multiple jurisdictions during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Our specialist services include casualty response, shipping litigation, commercial shipping and finance and logistics.
In addition, our Ports, Transport and Logistics Sector Group has extensive expertise in the ports, terminals and logistics corridors sector across numerous countries on the African continent.
Emergency Response
Southern Africa’s dangerous coastline is notorious for serious high profile losses. We strive to provide immediate legal and practical assistance. Our shipping experts are available 24 hrs a day via our National Helpline (+27 21 480 7920). In case of emergency, the following people will be available:
Cape Town
Craig Cunningham: +27 82 806 6001
Jeremy Prain: +27 72 596 7658
Lana Stockton: +27 82 569 7181
Durban
Andrew Pike: +27 83 295 3925
Mark van Velden: +27 82 461 6256
Chambers
The firm's diverse client roster benefits from its profound expertise in mortgage foreclosures, ship arrests, vessel collisions and maritime disputes, with extensive experience concerning London-based arbitration.
The team possesses considerable strength in casualty matters.
The department is also well equipped to handle port infrastructure mandates, including ports development.
The team has an active practice representing underwriters and cruise line operators, with notable strength outside of South Africa, including in Namibia.
Legal500
The shipping team primarily advises ship owners, marine insurers, foreign law offices, ship finance banks, and commodity traders on a wide range of issues, but particularly in relation to ship casualty and emergency response, and maritime claims.
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