Shipping
Global Guide 2024 : South Africa
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+27 31 536 8600About
Provided by ENS
ENSafrica’s dedicated shipping, ports and logistics team focuses on avoiding and minimising loss encountered in the business of shipping. Where loss is inevitable, we aid in the recovery of the loss and do so in the most commercially sensible and effective way possible.
Our key differentiator is our ever-growing presence in African harbours (including the major ports of Accra, Cape Town, Dar es Salaam, Durban, Port Louis and Walvis Bay), meaning that we are able to assist you in a range of matters in and around Africa’s waters.
We are able to provide you with a comprehensive casualty response following incidents of collision, grounding, sinking, fire and explosion, pollution, loss of cargo, and damage to cargo, and we are also able to facilitate matters concerning salvage and entry into bays and ports of vessels in distress, as a result of our relationships with the relevant role players.
Our clients include Protection and Indemnity (P&I) clubs and liner clients, and we act regularly for fishing majors.
Recent work highlights:
- USD200-million claims in London arbitration proceedings following the grounding and wrecking of MV “SMART” at Richards Bay.
- USD20-million claim following a collision involving MV “JULIAN” in Durban.
- ZAR16-million claim by a major oil company after MT “BOW SUN” damaged a pipeline in Mossel Bay (with the question being whether the owners are responsible for the pilot ordering the dropping of the anchor out of position).
Chambers Review
ENS houses a renowned admiralty team frequently called upon to respond to casualties, including collisions, groundings and pollution, as well as arrests. The team also has remarkable strength in salvages and diverse maritime claims, as well as enforcement mandates. In addition to its wet work, clients also benefit from the department's logistics and ports expertise. The firm handles disputes relating to various jurisdictions around Africa and the world, with involvement in London arbitration proceedings. The group services a stellar array of shipping lines, P&I clubs and international law firms, which benefit from its presence in ports outside South Africa.
Work Highlights
- ENS represented the owners of 'NS Qingdao' and their P&I club in the legal proceedings following a fire in a cargo hold, including environmental and cargo claims.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"ENS is a well-established law firm that has a global footprint with multidisciplinary expertise and specialist knowledge."
"The team is very diligent in working out the solutions with an effective follow-up."
"ENS is a well-established law firm that has a global footprint with multidisciplinary expertise and specialist knowledge."
"The team is very diligent in working out the solutions with an effective follow-up."
Notable Practitioners
Head of department Tony Norton maintains his standing as one of South Africa's pre-eminent shipping lawyers. He is regularly engaged by P&I clubs, shipping companies and vessel owners to provide counsel on high-profile collisions, arrests and groundings.
"Tony Norton makes himself available to his clients and is tenacious."
"He is a very safe pair of hands."
Michael Tucker handles a broad range of contentious shipping cases from the firm's Cape Town office, particularly those relating to casualties, such as groundings and collisions, as well as contractual matters.
"Michael Tucker is an exceptionally good lawyer."
Kate Pitman is well recognised by market commentators for the strength of her shipping practice. Her wide-ranging expertise covers charter parties, arrests, collisions and allisions. Operating out of Durban, she represents a range of clients in the space, including underwriters and owners.
Jacqui Kaufmann acts for clients on collision claims, cost recovery and ownership disputes. She is well placed to represent vessel owners.
"Jacqui Kaufmann is a pleasure to work with. She has the ability to sift through complex issues and is able to provide sound advice."
Ranked Lawyers at
ENS
South Africa