Shipping, Maritime & Admiralty Law

Comprehensive Shipping, Maritime & Admiralty Law

Secure Legal is a premier maritime law firm providing specialized legal support to shipowners, charterers, P&I clubs, and financial institutions. Our team combines deep technical maritime knowledge with a pragmatic approach to resolve domestic and cross-border disputes efficiently — through strategic litigation, international arbitration, or commercial negotiation.

1. Shipping Litigation & Arbitration

Our litigation team is known for its result-oriented approach across Indian and international fora. We represent clients in sophisticated arbitration proceedings, including London-seated disputes under London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA) terms.

Admiralty & Vessel Enforcement:

• Arrests or Release of Ships: Rapid action in rem in the 8 coastal High Courts under the Admiralty Act, 2017
• Recovery of Unpaid Dues: Actions for necessaries & supplies, bunker debts, and ship repairs
• Liens & Priorities: Enforcing maritime liens for salvage, towage, and pilotage
• Ownership & Possession: Resolving disputes over ship ownership, building, and equipping

Casualty & Operational Torts:

• Collision & Damage: Managing liability for collisions and all-stock damage
• Bunker Disputes: Resolving quality and payment disputes for marine fuels
• Masters and Crew Claims: Wage recovery, personal injury, and loss of life claims

Contractual & Cargo Litigation:

• Cargo Claims & Short Landing: Loss, damage, or non-delivery of goods
• Bill of Lading & Charterparties: Disputes involving “through” bills and delivery without documents
• Marine Insurance Claims: Pursuing and defending Hull & Machinery (H&M) and War Risk policy claims

2. Dry Shipping (Litigation & Contractual Disputes)

Charterparty Performance:

• Freight, Hire & Demurrage: Complex laytime/demurrage calculations and “deemed earned” freight clauses
• Off-hire & Seaworthiness: Litigating off-hire events and breaches of warranty in time charters
• Notice of Readiness (NOR): Safe port warranties and valid arrival disputes

Commercial & Trade Finance:

• FOB & CIF Contracts: Cross-border commodity disputes and contractual failures
• Letters of Credit: Documentary credit cases and banker’s duty of care
• P&I Clubs & Settlement: Negotiating third-party liabilities with P&I Clubs

3. Dry Shipping (Non-Litigation & Transactional)

Shipbuilding & Construction:

• New Building Contracts: Drafting and negotiating agreements with global shipbuilders for ships & rigs
• Ship Repair & Equipping: Legal oversight for vessel modifications and major refits

Finance & Asset Management:

• Sale & Purchase (S&P): Structuring MOAs for second-hand tonnage transfers
• Ship Finance & Mortgage: Ship financing and mortgage registration
• Registration & Flagging: Vessel and rig registration under Indian and international flags

Port & Infrastructure Development:

• Port & Jetty Terminals: Port projects, developments, and terminal facilities
• Port Facilities & Regulations: Port governance and agency agreements

Crisis Management: War Risk & Geopolitical Advisory

Secure Legal provides essential counsel on evolving geopolitical risks affecting shipping:

• Additional War Risk Premiums (AWRP): Managing surges in risk premiums and demonstrating “reasonable endeavours” in insurance procurement
• Strait of Hormuz Disruptions: Advising on strait closures and Iranian transit tolls
• Sovereign Guarantees: Strategic guidance on India’s sovereign guarantee fund for insurance and operational costs
• Force Majeure: Invoking contractual protections and frustration doctrine for port closures and blockages

Navigating Modern Maritime Reform (2025–2026)

We actively implement India’s latest legislative modernizations for a “Viksit Bharat”:

• Bills of Lading Act, 2025: Electronic Bills of Lading (e-BLs)
• Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 2025: Modern Hague-Visby Rules on carrier liability
• Coastal Shipping Act & Merchant Shipping Bill, 2025: New cabotage and registration norms
• Indian Ports Bill, 2025: Updated port governance frameworks