The shipping and admiralty practice involves dealing with the carriage of goods or people by sea, and includes the financing, construction, use, insurance and decommissioning of the ships that carry them. This practice is divided into ‘dry’ shipping and ‘wet’ shipping, the former relating to the land-based, commercial and contractual side of the work, and the latter concerning casualties or misadventure at sea. Clients range from banks and financial institutions to P&I clubs, major shipowners, charterers, oil and energy companies, port terminals and shipyards.

Major international centres of shipping law include London, Piraeus in Greece, Hong Kong and Singapore. The global shipping market is volatile by nature. Although the decreased demand for raw materials has affected the industry tremendously, the fall in oil prices has enabled shipping companies to operate more profitably.

A particular area of growth that has been highlighted by several law firms is the increased demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG), which had led to an increase in shipbuilding of special LNG tankers in shipyards. Work involved includes facilitating vessel operations, as well as advising on floating LNG project work.

‘Dry’ shipping lawyers

Work of a ‘dry’ shipping lawyer would normally include negotiating and drafting contracts for ship finance, ship sale and purchase, secured and unsecured vessel lending and leasing, affreightment contracts and the registration and re-flagging of vessels. There is also a contentious facet to dry work where disputes arise relating to contracts.

Non-contentious work mostly revolves around aspects of international trade, and it is important to be aware of legal developments. Contentious cases require a solid grasp of procedure and a strong foundation in contract and tort law.

‘Wet’ shipping lawyers

‘Wet’ shipping lawyers should be prepared to travel around the globe when assessing the condition of ships and interviewing crew or witnesses. They will represent their clients in collision or limitation actions. Occasionally, this might involve international arbitration.

In the shoes of a trainee

There is a strong focus on the technical side of the law, so it might be helpful to read Maritime Law or International Trade Law as one of your modules at university. Shipping is an international industry and most of the work might involve another jurisdiction. More importantly, as a trainee, you will have the privilege of learning from some of the most respected shipping and admiralty lawyers.