Admiralty & Shipping Law

Admiralty & Shipping Law

Navigating the legal complexities of global trade and domestic waters.

Maritime business is high-stakes, capital-intensive, and governed by a complex web of international conventions and domestic statutes. At The Justice Corner, we provide specialized legal counsel to shipowners, P&I Clubs, charterers, and cargo interests operating in Bangladesh’s territorial waters and ports.

From the immediate urgency of a ship arrest to the intricacies of cross-border arbitration, we offer a full-spectrum maritime practice rooted in the Admiralty Court Act, 2000 and international maritime law.

Core Areas of Practice

1. Dry Shipping & Commercial Claims

We handle the commercial disputes that arise from the movement of goods.

• Ship Arrest & Release: Swift action to arrest vessels for security of maritime claims, and immediate legal intervention to secure the release of arrested vessels to minimize demurrage.
• Cargo Claims: Adjudicating disputes regarding cargo damage, short-landing, and contamination under the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act (Hague/Hague-Visby Rules).
• Freight & Demurrage: Recovery of unpaid freight, demurrage, and detention charges.

2. Wet Shipping & Casualty Response

We provide crisis management and legal defense for accidents at sea.

• Collision & Salvage: Representing vessel owners in collision liability disputes, apportionment of blame, and salvage claim negotiations.
• Marine Pollution: Defending against claims related to oil spills or environmental damage in port areas.
• Pilotage & Towage: Resolving disputes arising from navigational errors during port entry or towing operations.

3. Contract Drafting & Advisory

Preventing disputes through watertight documentation.

• Charterparties: Drafting and reviewing Time, Voyage, and Bareboat charterparties to ensure balanced risk allocation.
• Trade Documentation: Expert review of Bills of Lading, Letters of Credit (LC), and Marine Insurance policies to ensure enforceability.
• Sale & Purchase: Facilitating the legal transfer of vessel ownership, flagging, and registration with the Department of Shipping.

4. Dispute Resolution & Arbitration

• Admiralty Litigation: Representation in the High Court Division (Admiralty Jurisdiction) for all maritime suits.
• Arbitration: Acting for clients in maritime arbitrations, focusing on expedient settlements to maintain commercial relationships.
• Regulatory Compliance: Advising on compliance with Bangladesh Merchant Shipping Ordinance and international safety conventions (SOLAS/MARPOL).

Why Choose The Justice Corner?

Port-Side Agility, International Standards.

Whether your vessel is detained at Chittagong Port or you are facing a cargo dispute in Mongla, our team combines on-the-ground capability with a profound grasp of international maritime law. We understand that in shipping, time is money—our legal strategies are designed to resolve conflicts swiftly and keep your fleet moving.

Strategic Suggestions

• "Ship Arrest" is your Hook: In Bangladesh, the "Arrest of Ship" is the most common high-value Admiralty action. I highlighted this first under "Dry Shipping" because it is usually what clients are urgently looking for.
• P&I Clubs: If you have experience dealing with P&I Clubs (Protection and Indemnity Clubs), you should explicitly mention it. Most major shipowners do not hire lawyers directly; their P&I Clubs do. Adding "Acting as correspondents for P&I Clubs" (if true) adds massive prestige.
• Lien: You might want to mention "Exercising Lien over cargo" under the Dry Shipping section, as this is a powerful tool for shipowners to get paid.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)