Shipping
Global Guide 2024 : South Africa
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+27 11 669 9000About
Provided by Bowmans
For over a century, we have met the demands of the industry by providing shipping and logistics services to our extensive range of local and international clients.
Our lawyers have been involved in many of the most significant local casualties over the past two decades, recently including the collisions involving the “Chemstar Jewel” and the “Sunrise Jade”, the fires aboard the “Tai Shan” and the “Maersk Londrina”, the sinking of the “Kiani Satu”, the grounding of the “Smart” and the loss of containers overboard the “Seroja Lima”.
In addition to our casualty work, we regularly conduct litigation to enforce maritime claims on behalf of our clients. Recently we represented the successful appellant in the “Seaspan Grouse” before the Supreme Court of Appeal, in a matter concerning the status of protective writs under South African law and following from the financial collapse of Hanjin Shipping.
According to a client quoted by Chambers & Partners, our team was “excellent”, “very practical” and “helped us get done what we had to get done in the most efficient way possible”.
Our specialist services include casualty response, shipping litigation, commercial shipping and finance and logistics.
In addition, our Ports Terminals and Logistics Corridors Sector Group has extensive expertise in the ports, terminals and logistics corridors sector across numerous countries on the African continent.
Chambers Review
Bowmans is a shipping law powerhouse in South Africa, servicing P&I clubs, charterers, owners and banks on an array of wet and dry work. The firm's diverse client roster benefits from its profound expertise in mortgage foreclosures, ship arrests, vessel collisions and maritime disputes, with extensive experience concerning London-based arbitration. In addition, the team possesses considerable strength in casualty matters. The department is also well equipped to handle port infrastructure mandates, including ports development. The team has an active practice representing underwriters and cruise line operators, with notable strength outside of South Africa, including in Namibia.
Work Highlights
- Bowmans acted for the lenders of the vessel 'Marvin Star' in the Namibian court proceedings arising from the sale of the vessel.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The firm offers an exceptional service and understanding of all related vessel and offshore disputes."
"The team are very efficient and their advice is very thorough."
"Bowmans provides excellent and easy-to-understand advice on matters."
"I have been impressed with the service levels provided and the turnaround time."
"The firm offers an exceptional service and understanding of all related vessel and offshore disputes."
"The team are very efficient and their advice is very thorough."
"Bowmans provides excellent and easy-to-understand advice on matters."
"I have been impressed with the service levels provided and the turnaround time."
Notable Practitioners
Andrew Pike is involved in the firm's key mandates and heads the firm's ports, transport and logistics team. Based in Durban, he is regularly instructed to handle casualty and cargo disputes.
"On the port side, Andrew Pike is the best."
Head of department Craig Cunningham possesses a deep roster of P&I club clients and a wealth of shipping arrest experience, as well as a thorough grasp of the field's regulatory regime. He frequently advises clients on claims for damages and collisions. He operates out of the firm's Cape Town office.
"Craig Cunningham is extremely experienced and efficient. He is able to handle the most complex cases and is an expert at case management."
"He is an exceptional lawyer who really leads the team very well."
Jeremy Prain operates a practice which encompasses a broad range of shipping issues, such as search and rescue and collisions, in addition to the financing and sale of vessels. He acts for a number of P&I clubs and financial institutions and is based out of Cape Town.
"Jeremy Prain is personable, efficient and delivers good results."
Mark Van Velden is well versed in commercial transactions in the shipping space, as well as in contentious mandates, such as arrests, charter party disputes and matters relating to environmental damage. He provides counsel to his clients from his base in Durban.
Lana Stockton is recognised as a growing force in South Africa's shipping space. She has experience advising on casualties and collisions as well as on insolvencies in the sector. She is based in Cape Town.
"Lana Stockton is easy to work with. She is very clear in her advice and responsive."
Ranked Lawyers at
Bowmans
South Africa
Members
Provided by Bowmans
Clients
Provided by Bowmans
Credit Europe Bank N.V.
Gard
HSBC Bank plc
Holman Fenwick Willan
Ince & Co
North of England P&I Club
Reed Smith
UK P&I Club (aka Thomas Miller)
Watson, Farley & Williams
Industries
Provided by Bowmans
Aerospace & Defence
Automobiles & Parts
Banking
Construction & Materials
Energy
Financial Services
Government
Industrial Engineering
Insurance
Mining & Metals
Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences
Retail
Telecommunications
Transportation