Shipping Law

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Shipping law deals with the movement of goods and passengers by sea. It’s actually divided into ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ shipping. Wet shipping refers to incidents or issues which come up during the actual voyage; whereas dry shipping refers to all other matters such as contracts, charter agreements, construction and funding for ships, port and harbour infrastructure.

What does shipping law involve?

Most disputes arising out of both wet and dry shipping law are greatly based on contract and tort laws. English admiralty law is a popular and generally accepted reference, even in overseas jurisdictions. Given the pan-global nature of international trade, it is inevitable that a majority of cases which come before the courts have plenty of international flavour.

Typical ‘wet’ disputes that arise are accidents, collisions, loss or destruction of freight at sea, piracy, explosions or capture by hostile groups, salvage operations and transgressing into the territorial waters of other countries without approval or prior notice.

‘Dry’ shipping disputes can be contractual breaches, infringement of ownership rights, manufacturing defects, insurance and reinsurance matters, portage, commissioning and decommissioning of vessels.

What makes a good shipping lawyer?

Lawyers working on admiralty cases should have an excellent mastery of contracts, commercial law and tort law. The nature of disputes in the shipping sector will mostly involve issues of contractual significance; however, in some instances, there could be a requirement for you to have some industry-specific and technical knowledge. People working in support roles will also need to be well-organised and a background in the shipping industry would be a great asset.

Generally, shipping lawyers in this area can really get to the heart of disputes if they have an in-depth understanding of the industry they are dealing with. They can then apply suitable legal principles more effectively. These guys will need strong logical reasoning, a disciplined approach to work, meticulous attention to detail, and cogent and creative thought processes.

It goes without saying that shipping lawyers will need an excellent academic record, e.g. a top class degree and good grades. Furthermore, proficiency in verbal and written communication, people management and interpersonal skills are essential.