Shipbuilding & Offshore Construction

Quadrant Chambers has vast experience and expertise across the shipbuilding and off-shore construction sectors.

We have appeared in many of the important cases of the past 10 years or so, such as The Star Polaris [2016] EWHC 2941 (Comm), Zhoushan Jinhaiwan v Golden Exquisite [2014] EWHC 4050 (Comm), Adyard Abu Dhabi v SD Marine Services [2011] EWHC 848 (Comm) and Ravennavi SpA v New Century Shipbuilding [2007] EWCA Civ 58.

Members practising in these areas typically adopt a hands-on approach, combining considerable technical and industry knowledge with traditional legal and forensic skills.  Our members receive instructions solely as well as in teams typically led by our more senior members.  They are comfortable working closely with experts from a wide-range of disciplines. Our barristers are frequently instructed from the early stages and throughout the dispute resolution process, advising clients on strategic decisions along the way, collating and preparing evidence, and working together with clients and experts to ensure the case is set on the right course and prepared correctly for trial or final hearing.

Disputes handled within chambers cover the full spectrum of vessel types as well as offshore construction, involving every conceivable issue that can arise in a shipbuilding, repair or conversion contract, such as:

• Rig/FPSO conversion projects
• Maintenance and refurbishment disputes
• Misrepresentation
• Fraud
• Illegality
• EU sanctions
• Class
• Option agreements
• Contract effectiveness
• Design licensing
• Design risk
• Deliverability
• Defective design
• Defective construction
• Delay and disruption
• Noise levels
• Coating defects and the PSPC
• Deadweight and speed shortfalls
• Warranty claims and repairs
• Refund and refund guarantees
• Payment guarantees
• Seller termination and instalment disputes
• Exclusion of liability
• Negligent supervision
• Negligent repair