Our Maritime Unit offers a broad range of legal services to domestic and international clients involved in the shipping and fishing sectors. The Maritime Unit combines the knowledge and experience of partners and solicitors from both the Business and Litigation and Dispute Resolution Departments.

We provide advice relating to the following:

• Ship arrest and release
  
  
• Collisions
  
  
• Cargo claims
  
  
• Bills of lading and charterparty disputes
  
  
• Marine casualties
  
  
• Contentious dealings with the Marine Section of
  the Department of Transport
  
  
• Contentious dealings with the Department of
  Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
  
  
• Personal injuries litigation
  
  
• All aspects of ship registration
  
  
• Applications for fishing vessel licences
  
  
• Contentious issues relating to tonnage and fishing quotas
  
  
• Environment and pollution
  
  
• Commercial, legal and administrative issues arising
  from the purchase or disposal of Irish registered
  fishing vessels
  
  
• Dealings with the Irish Registrar of Shipping
  
  
• Financing of ships and fishing vessels
  
  
• Creation and registration of security over fishing vessels
  
  
• Release and de-registration of security over fishing vessels
  
  
• Defence of prosecutions relating to fisheries laws

We advise clients on all aspects of marine litigation. We act for leading P&I Clubs, shipowners, charterers and marine insurers in relation to ship arrests, releases and limitation actions.

We have extensive experience in pursuing and defending claims against all types of carriers and vessels in relation to collision damage, cargo claims, property damage and personal injuries litigation.

We regularly provide advice to marine insurers, brokers and underwriters in relation to recovery actions, subrogation and contribution issues. We act for a number of port authorities, harbour authorities and terminals in various complex disputes including berthing disputes, property disputes and breach of contract cases.

We advise shipping vessel operators on their dealings with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Such advice includes advising clients on tonnage, quota allocations, administrative law issues and regulatory matters. We have also been involved in the defence of proceedings pertaining to Fisheries matters.

The maritime industry is highly regulated and we advise our clients on applicable statutory duties and the many regulatory issues that arise for our maritime clients.

We also advise on the sale and purchase, structured finance and re-financing of all types of vessels including cargo ships, yachts and fishing vessels.

The Maritime Unit offers a broad range of legal services to clients involved in the shipping and fishing sectors, which includes the following.

We have the expertise and resources to provide clients with service which combines efficient and cost effective action and commercially focused advice. Our main aim is to give value to our clients' business by understanding their commercial and legal needs and directing them swiftly to the best practical course of action in a market where timing is often crucial.