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Shipping & Maritime Lawyers In Singapore

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Shipping & Maritime Lawyers In Singapore

Maritime Law

Our maritime practice is a key practice area of the firm. Our lawyers are experienced in the full range of shipping and admiralty work, having acted for clients in highly contentious matters as well as complex transactional and advisory work.

We pride ourselves on being able to assist our clients efficiently with precise and comprehensive advice. Bearing in mind the global nature of the shipping industry, we have a wide network of foreign law firms in various major ports to support our clients’ needs.

Our clients include shipowners, charterers, P&I Clubs, H&M underwriters, recovery agents, cargo insurers, brokers, suppliers, ship agents and managers and other institutions involved in the maritime industry.

Admiralty Law & Marine Casualties

Our lawyers are highly experienced and have handled a broad range of casualty-related work including the arrest of vessels for obtaining security. Notable casualties handled recently include:

  • “Best Unity” c/w “Southern Explorer” off Singapore
  • “United Fortitude c/w “Oceanus Leader” off Singapore
  • “Prime Sailor” c/w “Kuo Hsiung” off Port Klang
  • “Mare Traveller” c/w “Densa Jaguar” off Chittagong
  • “Acted for “ALM Eagle” interests which was towing barge “POE Giant 12” which ran aground off Pedra Branca
  • “Hai Qing” c/w ‘Lord Vishnu’ and “SKUA” off Singapore
  • “Sevilla Knutsen” grounding on coral reefs around the Eauripik atoll, Federated States of Micronesia.

Charterparties & Cargo Claims

We have extensive experience in advising and handling litigation work in relation to this varied area of work. Some of our recent cases include:

  • Acted as counsel for a Singapore company listed in the SGX mainboard dealing with the ownership and chartering of offshore vessels and rigs against a Mexican credit company involving a dispute over standby letters of credit amounting to approximately US$9 million issued pursuant to a charterparty agreement. As part of the proceedings, obtained an interlocutory injunction against the Mexican company preventing it from calling for payment under the letters of credit.
  • Acted for an Indonesian shipping company, which is listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange, in defending an US$11 million arbitration claim in the London Maritime Arbitrators Association in respect of an alleged breach of a bareboat charterparty.
  • Acted for a Singapore listed company in an SIAC arbitration involving a US$85 million claim for breach of a long-term charterparty of a floating warehouse to PDVSA, the Venezuelan NOC.
  • Acted for a Singapore listed company in its tripartite joint venture to supply offshore support vessels in respect of the Gorgon gas project in Western Australia. Work done included drafting and negotiating the JVA and the chartering contracts.

Shipbuilding, Repairs & Conversion

Our lawyers are well-versed in both contentious and non-contentious matters in this practice area. As the market continues to face a downturn, our understanding of our client’s business provides a distinct advantage in offering prompt advice tailored to the difficult problems faced by both owners and yards. Some of our recent cases include:

  • Acted for a Mexican offshore contractor as claimants in an arbitration seated in Singapore against a major local shipyard in connection with warranty claims in excess of US$50 million arising from a contract for the construction and sale of a semi-submersible offshore drilling unit meant to be deployed under a PEMEX contract.
  • Acted for a Singaporean shipyard in a claim for loss and damage in the sum of £800,000 brought by owners for alleged negligence in the conversion of their vessel to enable her to perform cable-laying works.
  • Acted for Owners in a claim against an UAE-based builder for damages arising from delay and negligence in the construction of an offshore platform built at a contract price of US$8 million.
  • Acted for owners in a claim against a manufacturer of controllable pitch propellers for loss and damage arising from defects in design.
  • Retained by a Thai shipyard to advise and assist with all of their contract drafting and litigation.
  • Acted as counsel for a Chinese shipbuilding and ship repair company in the arrest of a bulk container vessel registered in Panama. The admiralty and arrest proceedings involved claims from numerous intervening parties including the cargo owners, bunker suppliers, mortgagee bank and crew and concluded with the judicial sale of the vessel. Also obtained judgment in a sister ship claim against the same owners.

Non-Contentious Shipping and Offshore Oil & Gas Work

We have acted in numerous vessel sale and purchase transactions and have also advised on financing and flag registration aspects both in relation to the purchase of second hand tonnage as well as newbuilds. We also advise both buyers and yards on their shipbuilding and repair contracts, ensuring that their contracts apply the appropriate contractual risk allocation. Our work in this practice area includes advisory work and drafting of charterparties, ship management contracts, contracts of affreightment and crewing agreements. Finally, we are adept in acting for our clients in international joint ventures in the context of the deployment of their vessels into challenging jurisdictions such as Nigeria, Mexico and Saudi Arabia.

Examples of our matters are as follows:

  • Acted for a buyer in relation to 3 new building contracts for self-propelled jack-up barges for construction at a shipyard in the USA. The aggregate project cost amounted to approximately US$150 million. Work done included drafting and negotiating documentation in relation to the financing of the new builds and separate joint ventures to own and operate the vessels.
  • A buyer in relation to a construction contract for a Friede & Goldman Super M2 design jack-up rig to be built in an UAE based yard at a contract price of US$150 million. Scope of the advice included the financing of the construction cost, the drafting of all necessary documentation for a tripartite joint venture to own and operate the rig and the negotiation on the terms and conditions of the building contract.
  • Acted for a purchaser in its US$80 million acquisition of an Oslo OTC listed company active in the provision of management services, operation and supply of on and offshore drilling and accommodation units. Advice rendered was mainly in relation to an extensive due diligence exercise carried out on the target company’s management contracts and assets.
  • Acted for a borrower in relation to a US$40 million term loan facility to finance the construction of an offshore platform in the USA.
  • Acted for a Singapore mainboard listed company in its tripartite joint venture to supply offshore support vessels in respect of the Gorgon gas project in Western Australia. Work done included drafting and negotiating the JVA and the chartering contracts.

Meet the Team

A diverse and dynamic group of industry-leading lawyers committed to helping you solve your challenges.

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Recent cases and news

Get the latest insights and learn more about the cases we’re working on.

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Meet the Team

A diverse and dynamic group of industry-leading lawyers committed to helping you solve your challenges.

Find out more

Recent cases and news

Get the latest insights and learn more about the cases we’re working on.

Find out more

Chambers & Partners – Asia Pacific 2023

PDLegal LLC is pleased to announce that Managing Partner, Peter Doraisamy, has been recognised and ranked by Chambers & Partners (Asia Pacific 2023 for Shipping: Domestic: Litigation). The following quotes appear with Peter’s ranking: –

“Peter Doraisamy of PDLegal in Singapore is a noted shipping lawyer in the market. He handles a wide range of disputes, including ship grounding, cargo and fraud-related cases” – Chambers & Partners – Asia Pacific 2023

“He is excellent in litigation. He has very good control of the case, collecting the right evidence and putting this into a very successful trial.” – Shipping Litigation Client

Chambers and Partners is the leading independent professional legal research company operating across 200 jurisdictions. Chambers and Partners delivers detailed rankings and insights into the world’s leading lawyers and law firms.

This ranking is a testimony to the expertise and experience of the Firm’s shipping practice and would not be possible without the support of our clients and friends.

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Meet the Team

A diverse and dynamic group of industry-leading lawyers committed to helping you solve your challenges.

View All
  • Peter Doraisamy

    Managing Partner

    “Peter is highly intelligent, with a keen awareness for issues. He often proposes simple, practical solutions for seemingly complex issues.”

    -Chambers & Partners – Asia Pacific 2024

  • Gerard Quek

    Deputy Managing Partner

    Gerard Quek – Lawyer Profile

    Gerard’s main areas of practice include fraud and asset recovery, commercial disputes, financial services law and regulation and shipping litigation.

  • Nazim Khan

    Senior Partner

    Nazim Khan – Lawyer Profile

    Nazim specialises in complex high value Commercial Litigation and International Arbitration.

  • Andrew Lee Weiming

    Partner

    Andrew Lee Weiming – Lawyer Profile

    In October 2017, Andrew was featured as one of “Asia’s brightest young legal minds under 40 years of age making waves” by Asian Legal Business.

  • Mato Kotwani

    Partner

    Mato Kotwani – Lawyer Profile

    Mato’s practice areas encompass civil and commercial litigation, criminal litigation (white-collar and general crime), employment law and other advisory work

  • Paul Papon Charoenpao

    Partner

    Paul Papon Charoenpao – Lawyer Profile

    Papon’s practice specializes in Financial Services, Venture Capital & Private Equity Funds, Mergers & Acquisitions, and other Corporate areas of laws.

  • Ling Wei Hong

    Partner

    Ling Wei Hong – Lawyer Profile

    Wei Hong is a dispute resolution specialist. His practice areas are Construction and Insurance.

  • Lakshman Shankar

    Partner, Head - India Desk

    Lakshman Shankar – Lawyer Profile

    Lakshman is an Indian-qualified lawyer registered as a foreign lawyer in Singapore. He has 24 years of experience and leads the firm’s India desk. 

  • Yzabel Dumaguing

    Counsel

    Yzabel Dumaguing – Lawyer Profile

    Yzabel’s main areas of practice are complex commercial and civil litigation (including cross-border commercial and corporate disputes), shipping, international arbitration and trade,  energy, natural resources & mining, and offshore.

  • Sathya Narayanan

    Counsel

    Sathya Narayanan – Lawyer Profile

    Sathya’s main areas of practice are civil and commercial litigation, restructuring and insolvency, and international arbitration.

  • Glenn Chua

    Counsel

    Glenn’s main areas of practice include fraud, asset recovery and investigations, complex commercial and cross-border disputes, restructuring and insolvency, international arbitration, and mediation. Glenn also specialises in white-collar criminal defence work.

  • Pranav Kamnani

    Counsel (Registered Foreign Lawyer)

    Pranav’s main areas of practice include complex commercial and cross-border disputes, international arbitration, and advisory services, with a primary focus in disputes relating to joint-ventures, shareholder disputes and construction. Pranav also has an interest in industry sectors such as technology and telecommunication, aviation and defence, and oil and natural gas.

  • Pumpumm Chomchai

    Associate

    Pumpumm Chomchai – Lawyer Profile

    Over 5 years of experience as a lawyer in the Corporate / Commercial, Foreign Investments, M&A, and Emerging Technologies Practices.

Let's Get In Touch

Our Office

  • A:

    PDLegal LLC Advocates & Solicitors 1 Coleman Street #08-02 The Adelphi Singapore 179803

  • E:

    [email protected]

  • T:

    (65) 6220 0325

  • F:

    (65) 6220 0392

  • H:

    Mon - Fri : 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Sat : 8:30 am - 12:00 pm

We’re here to help you

We know what’s at stake, and our lawyers ready for you – if you would like to speak to us for more information, please contact our client services team who will be happy to assist.


    Let's Get In Touch

    Our Office

    • A:

      PDLegal LLC Advocates & Solicitors 1 Coleman Street #08-02 The Adelphi Singapore 179803

    • E:

      [email protected]

    • T:

      (65) 6220 0325

    • F:

      (65) 6220 0392

    • H:

      Mon - Fri : 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
      Sat : 8:30 am - 12:00 pm