Articles

Purchasing a pre-owned vessel is a gamble in many respects, even more so when buyers do not have access to up-to-date maintenance records, says Simon Tatham. Hull underwriters pay out more for engine damage than most other claims and according to CEFOR, the Nordic Association of Marine Insurers, too many of these instances occur shortly…

Simon Tatham asks if there will ever be a time when owners or P&I Clubs challenge the courts if faced with unreasonable/uncommercial requirements from local authorities. At the time of writing, the cost of the operation to remove Costa Concordia is predicted to reach US$1.17bn, breaking through into the International Group of P&I Club’s third…

Simon Tatham looks at how salvage law and practice might catch up with the market place. Salvage jobs performed by OSVs often tend to be ‘nick of time’ services, for example where an anchor-handler attending a nearby drilling rig is the only immediately available unit. The type of casualty and whether it is loaded or…

Simon Tatham imagines an owner with a conscience giving a charterer a late-night dose of reality. “Good evening Frank – it’s Bill here, sorry to call so late. We’ve not spoken. We’re the owners of that new PSV you people have just employed working your rigs offshore Nigeria. I sit in operations here in Oslo…

Tug owners can use the lien clause if hirers fail to pay, say solicitor Simon Tatham and Mike Lacey, who originally drafted TOWCON, of TugAdvise See full article

April 2013 The Wreck Removal Convention still needs ratification by four more nations before it comes into force, but when it does, it will be game-changing, says Simon Tatham. The recent sinking in UK waters of, reportedly, an uninsured vessel, the 1,700 GRT ship Emsstrom under tow to Turkey for scrapping, has attracted the attention…

Increasingly port authorities are insisting on escort tug arrangements for visiting tankers, a trend that has gathered pace in recent years albeit long since the groundings of the Sea Empress and Exxon Valdez highlighted the potential benefit. Around the UK coast compulsory escort arrangements are in force under local harbour regulations and much the same…

One of the problems in ocean towage almost guaranteed to give rise to hypertension, is when a long delay occurs in either the tug or tow being ready at the port of departure. Take for example a scrap tow from a remote port. Lets assume first that the Tugowner is the good guy and that…

Simon Tatham explores the differences between the two revised agreements and their older forms, and states ‘neither set is likely to be agreed without amendment’. Here he explores the issues and explains his standpoint. In 2008 the TOWCON and TOWHIRE agreements were revised. Why is it then that the older forms are still being occasionally…

Simon Tatham takes a look at the of both owner and hirer under deepsea towage contracts.  Using a scrap tow as an example, he explains why disputes over long delays are rarely straightforward to resolve. One of the problems in ocean towage almost guaranteed to give rise to hypertension, is when a long delay occurs…