Shipping & Transport
Beaufort Litigation acts for owners, charterers and transportation companies and is specialized in all aspects of wet and dry shipping and transportation in the short-sea and brown water markets.
Dispute resolution
Beaufort Litigation acts before Dutch Courts and Arbitral Tribunals (ICC, NAI, UNUM) on a day-to-day basis. Because your interests are not always best served by ‘going to court’, we often go to great lengths to negotiate out of court. And with success. When your interest is best served by lititgation, expect us to go full-on. But: we always advise, plan and discuss tactics. We thoroughly believe in the credo: ‘do not bleat, but bite’.
We act for H&M, P&I and FDD insurers on a near 24/7 basis. We assist owners, charterers and transportation companies, as well as correspondents and dedicated claims handlers, in:
- collisions and allisions;
- technical vices and H&M disputes;
- general average;
- limitation of liability; and
- cargo claims, amongst which road transportation matters.
Our clients are well-versed in their trade and in contracting their business. We know the gaps, ineffective clauses and legal remedies to tie the knots together. We draft contracts, opine and advise on contracts and contractual relations and on how to undo them or to optimize contractual effects. We do not aim to hold your hand, but to be that clever sparring partner when it comes to:
- sale & purchase of vessels, as well as newbuilds;
- charter agreements;
- contracts of carriage;
- contractual securities.
Defence counsel for the Russian-Cypriot holder of security rights in >100 containers to be sold per judicial auction.
Advising a major owner/operator on sludge disposal per MARPOL and Dutch port standards.
Defence counsel for Swiss industrialists in a technical dispute. On the basis of a battle of the forms-defence, the case was dismissed in the Netherlands with highly favorable effects for clients.
Defence counsel for vessel owner re an unjust and contractually exonerated demurrage claim.
Advising German industrialists in a European tender procedure.
Acting for vessel owners in a technical dispute regarding vices in a bow thruster installed in a new-build seulting in extensive hull damage.
Defence counsel for pushboat owners in an extensive allision (barge – quay) case.
Drafting of T&C for vessel managers, surveyors and shipyards.
Acting for vessel owners in a new-build dispute over hidden vices in a non-return valve resulting in extensive hull damage.
Acting for vessel owners against a shipyard in a dispute over contractual scope, performance and pricing.
Advising major shipowners on forum and choice of law clauses in contracts of affreightment.
Advising shipowner on a Maritime Labour Convention claim for death of a seafarer.
Defence counsel for pushboat owners in a collision between a pushtrain and a pleasure craft.
Acting for major maritime traders in an international asset recovery matter against a former contractual partner.
Acting for shipowners in a collision between a tanker and a pushtrain.
Acting for insured interests of an antiques estate in an insurance coverage dispute in an extensive fire damage case.
Defence counsel for insurers of cargo interests in a CMR theft case, in which carriers have launched negative declaratory (limitation) proceeding in the Netherlands.
Acting for shipowners regarding a claim for hull damage following high-pressure water blasting.
Defence counsel for barge owner in extensive limitation of liability proceedings following an allision with a bridge. Bridge owners and pushboat owners launched the claim that the barge was a seagoing vessel. This claim failed, leading to new case law on topic.
Acting for shipowners in a limitation of liability procedure following an oil spill.
Acting for barge owners regarding a hull claim following a three-party collision.
Advising industrial complex managers on facilities contracts and drafting contracts.
Advising and acting for shipowners following an allision with a bridge.
Acting for industrial complex managers in a pricing dispute.
Acting for an international bank in a major international asset recovery matter.
Acting for shipowners regarding hull damages following a three-party collision.
Defence counsel for pushboat owners and operators in a canal collision between a pushtrain and an inland vessel, which collision was caused by suction and lead to extensive damage.
Defence counsel for pushboat owners in an allision between a bridge and a barge following the anchoring of the barge by the pushboat.
Defence counsel for shipowners encountering an unjust collision claim (no liability).
Acting for pushboat owners and operators in a major limitation of liability case following the collosion of an inlang barge with a pushtrain.
Acting for barge owners in a dispute over hull damages against the barge’s carriers.
Acting for major maritime traders in an international asset recovery matter against shipowners.
Advising and drafting SPA of a vessel.
Advising on lease of property for major German industrialists and drafting the relevant contracts.
Acting for major maritime traders in an international asset recovery matter against former contractual partner.
Acting for maritime agents of a vessel sold per judicial auction.
Advising shipowners in allision matter in the Dutch Antilles following a hurricane.