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Cargo & Bills of Lading

The leading light in cargo, insurance and related casualty matters.

Our global cargo team supports clients in managing all cargo issues. We focus on dealing with and solving problems at whatever stage they occur during the transportation process. We are experienced in handling disputes involving bills of lading, quantity or quality, shortage or contamination claims, General Average and advice on letters of indemnity.

We work closely with our clients to collect evidence, obtain security, including coordinating arrest or attachment proceedings, and consider jurisdictional and contractual options. Our international network allows us to be on the ground in different jurisdictions, dealing with our clients' interests at the point of contact.

Many of our team members have been advising on Lloyd’s Open Form Salvage arbitrations for several decades. Acting for insurers around the world, we have dealt with over 1,500 cases in the last 40 years.

We are flexible when developing the most appropriate claims handling procedure for each client and will adopt the most appropriate solution whether by negotiation, mediation, arbitration or litigation, to achieve the optimum result.

Our Cargo & Bills of Lading Work

  • All
  • Africa
  • Asia Pacific
  • North America
  • UK & Europe
  • Total loss of the Kiani Situ

    Advising cargo insurers after a bulk carrier ran aground with a cargo of rice. The vessel was refloated but it was not possible to bring it to port due to damage to the hull and the vessel subsequently sank

    South Africa

    "AQASIA"

    Led the UK High Court and Court of Appeal litigation for the successful insurers of the cargo. This is a key decision on the inapplicability of Hague Rules limitation to bulk cargo.

    United Kingdom

    "MAERSK TANGIER" [2018]

    Advising successful subrogated cargo insurers in recovery claim for US$1.2m before the UK High Court and Court of Appeal. This was the first ever English reported case on meaning of container limitation provision in the Hague-Visby Rules.

    United Kingdom

    Heung-a Dragon cargo loss following collision

    Defending claims for the salvage and general average of the surviving containers, and pursuing recovery for the loss of cargo following a collision between a container ship and a bulk carrier, after which only the on-deck cargo could be salvaged` and nearly all 600 containers were lost

    Vietnam

    Largest warehouse cargo fraud case in a decade

    Acting for insurers to defend a cargo claim following a warehouse fraud in which 144,000 MT of soybeans were lost. This case is thought to be the largest single cargo insurance case in the last decade

    Indonesia

    MSC Flaminia major onboard fire

    Advising insurers on substantial claims for cargo loss and damage following a major fire on board a containership, during which several crew died, the ship was heavily damaged and at least 60% of the cargo on board was destroyed

    United States

    Saga Explorer and testing of the Retla Clause

    Advising multiple cargo insurers on a case relating to letters of indemnity, fraud and title to sue. This case saw the Retla Clause tested for the first time in the UK courts and is a major development in relation to the extent to which the apparent good order and condition of steel cargo can be qualified

    United Kingdom

    Sinking the MSC Napoli and the loss of over 2000 containers

    Advising on the MSC Napoli, a container vessel which suffered structural damage whilst on a voyage from Northwest Europe to South Africa laden with approximately 2,600 containers

    South Africa

    Total loss of MOL Comfort

    Advising multiple cargo insurers on the total loss of USD 600 million of cargo after "MOL COMFORT" broke in two, caught fire and sank in two sections, losing all 4,382 containers on board. This is the largest container vessel ever be lost

    United Kingdom
  • Total loss of the Kiani Situ

    Advising cargo insurers after a bulk carrier ran aground with a cargo of rice. The vessel was refloated but it was not possible to bring it to port due to damage to the hull and the vessel subsequently sank

    South Africa

    Sinking the MSC Napoli and the loss of over 2000 containers

    Advising on the MSC Napoli, a container vessel which suffered structural damage whilst on a voyage from Northwest Europe to South Africa laden with approximately 2,600 containers

    South Africa
  • Largest warehouse cargo fraud case in a decade

    Acting for insurers to defend a cargo claim following a warehouse fraud in which 144,000 MT of soybeans were lost. This case is thought to be the largest single cargo insurance case in the last decade

    Indonesia

    Heung-a Dragon cargo loss following collision

    Defending claims for the salvage and general average of the surviving containers, and pursuing recovery for the loss of cargo following a collision between a container ship and a bulk carrier, after which only the on-deck cargo could be salvaged` and nearly all 600 containers were lost

    Vietnam
  • MSC Flaminia major onboard fire

    Advising insurers on substantial claims for cargo loss and damage following a major fire on board a containership, during which several crew died, the ship was heavily damaged and at least 60% of the cargo on board was destroyed

    United States
  • "AQASIA"

    Led the UK High Court and Court of Appeal litigation for the successful insurers of the cargo. This is a key decision on the inapplicability of Hague Rules limitation to bulk cargo.

    United Kingdom

    "MAERSK TANGIER" [2018]

    Advising successful subrogated cargo insurers in recovery claim for US$1.2m before the UK High Court and Court of Appeal. This was the first ever English reported case on meaning of container limitation provision in the Hague-Visby Rules.

    United Kingdom

    Saga Explorer and testing of the Retla Clause

    Advising multiple cargo insurers on a case relating to letters of indemnity, fraud and title to sue. This case saw the Retla Clause tested for the first time in the UK courts and is a major development in relation to the extent to which the apparent good order and condition of steel cargo can be qualified

    United Kingdom

    Total loss of MOL Comfort

    Advising multiple cargo insurers on the total loss of USD 600 million of cargo after "MOL COMFORT" broke in two, caught fire and sank in two sections, losing all 4,382 containers on board. This is the largest container vessel ever be lost

    United Kingdom

Our Cargo & Bills of Lading team

Leon Alexander
Leon Alexander

Partner

Jane Andrewartha
Jane Andrewartha

Partner

Andrew Bicknell
Andrew Bicknell

Partner

Craig Bird
Craig Bird

Partner

Ik Wei Chong
Ik Wei Chong

Partner / Managing Director, Asia

Eleanor Coates
Eleanor Coates

Partner

Simon Culhane
Simon Culhane

Partner

Fernando Escamilla
Fernando Escamilla

Partner

Elizabeth Evans
Elizabeth Evans

Partner

Frederick Fein
Frederick Fein

Partner

John Flaherty
John Flaherty

Partner

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