Maritime Law

To paraphrase Victor Hugo, “The sea is a space of freedom” (…) which nevertheless requires rigor to avoid pitfalls for those who practice it.

With this concern for rigor but also keeping an objective of efficiency, Marine Partners law firm advises and assists shipowners in their various activities, including their investment projects. In this respect and taking into account the cost of these investments and the commercial stakes involved, it is crucial to anticipate as much as possible any problems at each stage of the project(s):

• Drafting and negotiating letters of intent between shipyards and shipowners in order to materialize the agreement of the parties on the main terms and conditions of the shipbuilding contract;
• Drafting and negotiating shipbuilding contracts with either French or foreign shipyards in close relationships with shipowners technical departments with the target of securing the critical points as identified by them and in particular the post-delivery guarantee aspects;
• Negotiation of terms and conditions of refund guarantees to be provided by shipyards in favour of shipowners to secure the potential repayment of various instalments paid by them during vessel construction process;
• Drafting and negotiating Memorandum of Agreements for second hand vessels;
• Drafting and negotiating escrow agreements (to secure transfer of ownership and payment of sale price for the vessel) especially where mortgagees are involved;
• Negotiation & drafting charter agreements;
• Assistance to French or foreign shipowners in carrying out formalities for the purchase/sale and/or registration of commercial or pleasure vessels whether under French flag or foreign flag (Luxembourg, Italy, Cyprus, Malta, Liberia, Panama , Bahamas, Saint Vincent & The Grenadines, etc…) with, if necessary, the assistance of lawyers based in these jurisdictions.