Rising Stars

Shipping and transport in South Africa

Bowmans

At Bowmans, Craig Cunningham is a highly regarded practitioner in the shipping space, and is sought after by marine insurers, charterers, shipowners, suppliers and financiers for his expertise in advising on cases involving maritime casualties, ship finance and the arrest and attachment of vessels. Andrew Pike stands out for his focus on port infrastructure and development work. Heather Manson leads the aviation practice, and is well known for her specialist expertise in aviation insurance, also a key area of strength for Claudia Jackson. Mark van Velden  specialises in charterparty matters, and is equally adept at handling shipping litigation and mortgage foreclosures; Jeremy Prain‘s workload includes rail and road transportation matters and ship finance work; and Lana Stockton fields expertise in cross-border shipping insolvency matters.

Responsables de la pratique:

Craig Cunningham; Heather Manson; Andrew Pike


Autres avocats clés:

Jeremy Prain; Claudia Jackson; Mark van Velden; Lana Stockton


Les références

‘The team has in-depth knowledge of the infrastructure deal space in South Africa, which makes them very useful advisors.’

‘Andrew Pike has become my go-to partner for all infrastructure deals in English-speaking South Africa.’

‘The firm is very efficient and professional.’

Principaux clients

Macquarie


Standard Bank


South African Civil Aviation Authority


The American Club


Britannia


The Charterers Club (the MECO group)


Gard


Guardrisk


Infiniti


The London Club


NorthStandard


The Norwegian Hull Club


Santam Limited


Starr Underwriting Managers


The Shipowners Club


Skuld


Steamship


Tokio Marine


The Swedish Club


The UK Club


Thomas Miller Specialty


West of England


HFW


Hill Dickinson


Ince


Kirkland & Ellis


MFB Solicitors


Nautica Law


Reed Smith


Rajah & Tann


Shoreside Law


Stephenson Harwood


Watson, Farley & Williams


Wikborg Rein


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising the South African Civil Aviation Authority and its insurers in relation to an aircraft accident.

Webber Wentzel

At Webber Wentzel, the shipping team is jointly led by Gavin Fitzmaurice, Patrick Holloway and Andre Bowley, with Scott Edmundson and Neerasha Singh leading on aviation. On the shipping side, the group assists a client base including port owners and operators, shipowners, insurers and charterers with maritime casualties, commercial shipping transactions, international trade matters and enforcement of maritime claims, to name a few areas of expertise. On the aviation side, aviation finance and the import and export of aircraft are prominent in the group’s workload. Andre October handles contentious maritime and aviation mandates, and Sheena Dias is sought after for her expertise in marine insurance and port-related work. Sharmila Naidoo left the firm in July 2022.

Responsables de la pratique:

Gavin Fitzmaurice; Patrick Holloway; Andre Bowley; Neerasha Singh; Scott Edmundson


Autres avocats clés:

Andre October; Sheena Dias


Les références

‘One of the leading shipping and trade practices in South Africa. Years of experience and knowledge. Very dependable and professional.’

‘Gavin Fitzmaurice, Andre Bowley and Patrick Holloway are the leading individuals on the shipping side.’

‘They are very helpful, commercially minded and outcome focused. They are very focused on achieving the aims of the clients within the confines of South African law and the South African judicial system.’

Principaux clients

Karpowership South Africa


Maryam D BV, registered owners of the ‘Maryam D’


Durban Coal Terminal Company (Pty) Ltd, trading as Bulk Connections


Pequod Associates Limited


The Hollard Insurance Company


Arkas Petrol Urunleri Ve Ticaret AS; Bryval t/a Zeba Marine; Bunkernet Limited; KPI Bridge Oil Limited; Monjasa DMCC


Altera Infrastructure and Varg LLC


UK P&I Club trading as Thomas Miller


Nedbank Limited & FirstRand Bank Limited


ARIA (African Rail Industry Association)


Traxtion Sheltam Proprietary Limited


Principaux dossiers


  • Acting for a ports authority in a longrunning case concerning claims arising out of the grounding and total loss of the bulk carrier mv “Smart”, which ran aground in 2013.
  • Assisting rail company Traxtion with negotiations for the Commercial Agreement and the Rail Access Agreement, involving the regulation of slot sale arrangements between Traxtion and Transnet.
  • Advised Nedbank and Rand Merchant Bank on the business rescue of Comair.

ENSafrica

ENSafrica‘s department has established strength in handling a broad range of contentious and non-contentious shipping matters. Practice head Tony Norton is a specialist in maritime law and acts for marine insurers, agents, and owners and operators of vessels in cases involving maritime casualties, as well as defending maritime claims before the High Court. Jacqui Kaufmann is highly regarded for her expertise in handling litigation arising from ship attachments and arrests, and Kate Pitman‘s workload includes assisting with bills of lading, contracts of affreightment, and charterparty matters. Marine insurance and defence disputes are key areas of instruction for Michael Tucker. Bibi Motala and Angelique Barroso-Cordier are key names in the team.

Responsables de la pratique:

Tony Norton


Autres avocats clés:

Michael Tucker; Jacqui Kaufmann; Kate Pitman; Bibi Motala; Angelique Barroso-Cordier


Les références

The shipping department provides an exceptional legal service with very good response times and excellent understanding of the business. The shipping department has a particularly dynamic and diverse team of young, talented and seasonal professionals. The team are always a pleasure to work with and make the effort to build and maintain client relationships.’

‘Tony Norton is widely considered to be the leading shipping practitioner in South Africa. He is exceptional with his broad range of knowledge and experience in the field.’

All the team members are extremely accessible, hardworking and deliver an impeccable standard of work. Tony Norton and his team are my preferred lawyers for all shipping matters and make an excellent team to work with.’

Principaux clients

Amawandle Hake (Pty) Ltd (an Oceana Group Limited [‘OGL’] subsidiary)


QBE British Marine


2OPIC (Pty) Ltd


Gard AS


Koch Shipping Pte Ltd


Reed Smith LLP


MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company SA (MSC)


Steamship Insurance Management Services Limited


Korea Shipping Corporation


Korea Tonnage No.27 Shipping Company


Britannia Steam Ship Insurance Association Europe


Sociedade de Desenvolvimento do Port de Maputo S.A.R.L (“MPDC”)


Terminal de Carvao da Matola Limitada (“TCM”)


Group Risk Mutual Limited


NS Qingdao Shipping Co Ltd


London P&I Club


Prime Paradise International Limited


P&I Associates (Pty) Ltd


Chiotelis & Co, Greece


Minmetals Logistics Zhejiang Co. Ltd


Charterers P&I Club


The Shipowners’ Protection and Indemnity Association (Luxembourg)


Linsen Nambi (Pty) Ltd


ONE Line A/S


North Standard P&I Club


Owners of the mv THEMIS


Owners of the mv FORTUNE STAR


The Swedish P&I Club


African Marine Solutions


The American P&I Club


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising Amawandle Hake (Pty) Ltd and P&I insurers, QBE British Marine, in respect of an allision by a commercial trawler with a quayside, causing a shoreside crane to partially destroy a quayside building installation.
  • Advising Prime Paradise International Limited regarding a dispute over the ownership of the vessel “Marvin Star”, on the grounds that transfer of ownership of the vessel was fraudulent.
  • Providing ongoing assistance to the Korea Shipping Corporation and the Korea Tonnage No.27 Shipping Company of the mv “SM New York”, via the Britannia Steam Ship Insurance Association Europe, regarding multiple high-value claims arising from damage caused by high winds through the port of Durban in 2017.

Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa Inc

The shipping department at Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa Inc has an excellent reputation for advising on marine insurance and maritime casualties, both key areas of instruction for practice head Malcolm Hartwell. Firm CEO Andrew Robinson is sought after for his expertise in port regulatory matters and admiralty litigation, and Peter Lamb has been kept busy advising on contentious mandates concerning shipping collisions. Carol Holness is active on matters in relation to charterparties, bills of lading, maritime casualty response and international trade cases.

Responsables de la pratique:

Malcolm Hartwell


Autres avocats clés:

Andrew Robinson; Peter Lamb; Carol Holness


Les références

The shipping and transport team has a huge amount of specialist shipping and transport knowledge and a very practical approach to getting things done.’

Andrew Robinson is always available. He is also exceptionally well connected within the shipping and legal communities.’

Malcolm, Andrew, Carol and Peter are extremely helpful and knowledgeable.’

Principaux clients

Members of Parakou Shipping Group


Seguradora Internacional de Mocambique, S.A.R.L (and other Insurers of mv Macuti)


MS Amlin and three other Lloyd’s syndicates


South African oil major


South African marine insurance market: mv APL Austria


AlcoNCP (Pty) Ltd


SA Marine Insurance market


Various oil majors who are members of the South African Petroleum Industry Association (SAPIA)


Reload Aquarius Shipping International (Pty) Ltd.


Stalker Hutchinson, insurer of Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT)


Principaux dossiers


  • Assisting Seguradora Internacional de Mocambique, S.A.R.L, and other insurers with ongoing litigation arising from the collision of a dredger vessel.
  • Advising container ship APL Austria on claims against the owners, contractual carriers and potentially liable third-party cargo owners following a cargo fire on board the vessel.
  • Representing various oil majors who are members of the South African Petroleum Industry Association (SAPIA) in a dispute with the Transnet National Ports Authority concerning the potential closure of SAPIA’s facility in Port Elizabeth.

Clyde & Co LLP

With experience in admiralty law and contentious shipping matters, Arthur James heads Clyde & Co LLP’s shipping and marine practice. James regularly acts for ship owners and hull insurers in this space, and is equally adept at advising insurers on marine cargo policies. Thomas Henstra is active in marine insurance matters, and Nicholas Veldman acts for vessel owners and operators in demurrage and collision cases. Tilly Seboko plays an important role in the team. Mbali Mbunda left the firm in August 2023.

Responsables de la pratique:

Arthur James


Autres avocats clés:

Nicholas Veldman; Thomas Henstra; Tilly Seboko


Les références

‘They are very proactive in advising us on the best strategy and best option while keeping costs under control on request.’

Principaux clients

The Ministry of the Armed Forces – French Government


Intertek Group


Glencore PLC


Certain Underwriters at Lloyds


Global Marketing Systems Dubai (GMS) as agent of Nadella Corporation


QBE Insurance Group Limited


MS Amlin Ltd


Hiscox| MGA


Liberty Mutual Group


Chubb Underwriting Agencies


Chubb South Africa


Tri-Marine Acceptances (Pty) Ltd


AIG South Africa


AXA XL


Cathedral Underwriting


Petrobras


Cox Yeats

At Cox Yeats, the team’s workload includes handling charterparty disputes, ship arrests, marine insurance claims, claims under bills of lading and the sale and purchase of ships. Practice head Andrew Clark is well versed in advising on marine insurance claims and ship arrests, and Tamryn Simpson fields expertise in vessel collision claims, charterparty agreement litigation and cargo recovery claims. Aideen Ross handles marine and liability insurance, which is also a key area of strength for Slindokuhle Ngwenya.

Responsables de la pratique:

Andrew Clark


Autres avocats clés:

Tamryn Simpson; Aideen Ross; Slindokuhle Ngwenya


Les références

‘The Cox Yeats team is approachable. They have a ‘user friendly’ approach.’

‘The individuals I have dealings with are approachable and engaging, which makes the interactions more meaningful and insightful. Andrew and Tamryn are always one phone call or email away and always provide prompt assistance. ’

‘We have an excellent working relationship with them and they are always available for a call or a meeting at very short notice. We value their advice.’

Principaux clients

South Africa Cargo Services (Pty) Ltd


The Hollard Insurance Company Limited


Vopak South Africa (inclusive of all Vopak’s South African entities – Vopak Terminal Durban (Pty) Ltd / Vopak South Africa Developments (RF) (Pty) Ltd)


Through Transport Club (TT Club): International Transport and Logistics Insurance


Santam Limited


North of England P&I Association


Santova Logistics (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd


Columbus Stainless (Pty) Ltd


HDI Global SA Limited


Golden Macadamias (Pty) Ltd/ Nut and Dry Fruit Exchange (Pty) Ltd


Segelken & Suchopar, Germany


Jumbo Pre-Packers (Pty) Ltd


Nautical Underwriting Managers (Pty) Ltd


Betachem (Pty) Ltd


WK Webster & Co Ltd


Nalifon (Pty) Ltd