Maritime and Shipping

In the area of maritime, we assist ship owners, ship builders and shipyards to register mortgages on Nigerian vessels and vessels under bareboat to Nigerian Charterers. In cases were a ship is purchased on loan and the ship is mortgage as security, we assist in the registration of a mortgage on the ship at the Nigerian Ship Registration Office to protect our Client’s interest on the ship. We have acted in litigation involving the ownership of a vessel at the Federal High Court, Lagos, Nigeria and have litigated on maritime claims including seafarers’ wages and welfare, masters’ wages and ship mortgages.

For shipping, we offer comprehensive legal services including charter-party disputes, cargo claims and carriage contracts. We represent operators, charterers and their P&I Clubs, P&I clubs’ correspondents, trucking companies, freight forwarders, insurance companies and insurance brokers, marine survey and loss adjusting companies, cargo and marine underwriters, freight forwarders, ship brokers, etc. We render legal advice on bills of lading, contracts of sale, carriage of goods by sea, cabotage and investment in the shipping industry.

Our lawyers are very familiar with the Hague Rules, Hague–Visby Rules and Hamburg Rules and the interpretations thereon. Furthermore, our lawyers are familiar and have advised on bareboat agreements, ship management agreements, etc. We act very fast in resolving any genuine cargo and marine claims involving our clients. Our maritime and shipping law department is consists of seasoned and experts maritime and shipping lawyers.

Our Lawyers have a right of audience before all courts in Nigeria. Benfield Attorneys and Solicitors has carved out a niche for itself in resolving complex and difficult maritime and shipping law issues. To us at Benfield Attorneys and Solicitors, clients’ satisfaction is our priority

We understand the nature and the global maritime and shipping business environment; hence, we act with speed in resolving any maritime and shipping disputes involving our clients. We understand that time is of the essence in the maritime world, therefore, Benfield Attorneys and Solicitors takes the issue of time very seriously. At Benfield Attorneys and Solicitors, we make sure that our Clients’ vessels are not arrested and detained unnecessarily.

Towards this, we file a caveat against arrest and detention at the Registry of the Federal High Court and constantly engage with the Registry for renewals. If an arrest or detention order is made against our Clients’ vessel, we quickly move to discharge the order and have the vessel proceeds on her usual business routine. This is the reason Benfield Attorneys and Solicitors maintains cordial and constant relationship with the P&I Clubs and the major banks and insurance companies.

We believe that our Clients’ maritime and shipping business is of utmost importance, therefore, we take pride in protecting the vessel against arrest and detention by business partners. Our pro-activeness in protecting our Clients’ maritime and shipping businesses stands us out among our peers.