Practice areas

We are specialists when it comes to the serious issue of advising on the legal issues that arise from war, piracy and terrorism. Warlike acts of terror aimed at commercial shipping have happened with alarming regularity.  The world does not get any safer and it is difficult not to transit across waters where coastal states are subject to internal conflict and where your vessels are not potentially exposed to collateral damage from attacks by warring factions or criminal gangs.

Somalian piracy has receded with the increased use of armed guards, Best Management Practice and the continued presence of the coalition navies. However, the threat of kidnapping and hijacking remains high in the Gulf of Guinea. Tensions remain high in the Straits of Hormuz and in the Red Sea particularly off Yemen. Iran is seen as a real threat to shipping as seen with the recent boarding of the Stena Impero and bombing of ships off Fujairah.  Civil war continues to ravage several Middle Eastern countries and that in turn has fuelled an exodus of immigrants who in turn present their own unique challenges to shipping.

Primary contact: Stephen Askins