We represent shipping companies, shipowners, ship agents and consignees in their operations in Spanish ports and international arbitration.
At Vectoris Legal we are specialist maritime law lawyers in Spain, advising shipping companies, shipowners, charterers, ship agents, consignees, freight forwarders, port operators and P&I Clubs. Our maritime law practice covers all areas of shipping: from the drafting and negotiation of charterparties and bills of lading to the enforcement of maritime claims, ship arrest, general average and salvage.
We work from Barcelona with national and international coverage. For matters governed by English law or requiring London arbitration, we have a stable agreement with one of the best specialist maritime law solicitors firms in London, offering clients a single point of contact in Spain for all their maritime legal needs.
The bill of lading (B/L) is the central document of any maritime cargo operation. It functions simultaneously as receipt of goods, document of title and evidence of the contract of carriage. Its legal regime — the Hague-Visby Rules, the Hamburg Rules or the national law applicable to each operation — determines the scope of the carrier's liability, the limits of compensation and the procedural requirements for making a valid claim. At Vectoris Legal we draft and review bill of lading clauses, advise on the applicable regime and represent carriers, shippers and cargo interests in disputes arising from B/L operations.
A charterparty is the contract governing the relationship between shipowner and charterer for the use of a vessel. The two main modalities — voyage charter and time charter — generate very different rights and obligations in terms of freight, laytime, demurrage, off-hire and liability for cargo damage. Most charterparties under BIMCO forms (Gencon, NYPE, Asbatankvoy) are governed by English law with LMAA arbitration. At Vectoris Legal we negotiate and draft charterparties, advise on their execution and represent parties in charterparty disputes before Spanish courts and international arbitration tribunals.
The arrest of ships — also called vessel arrest or preventive attachment — is the most powerful interim measure in maritime law. It allows a maritime creditor to immobilise the vessel in the port where it is found pending resolution of the main claim. Vectoris Legal operates a specialised ship arrest practice covering all Spanish ports 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. For full details, see our dedicated page: Ship Arrest in Spain. For more information, see our page on ship arrest in Spain.
Protection & Indemnity (P&I) Clubs provide mutual insurance to shipowners and operators for liabilities not covered by hull and machinery policies: cargo liability, crew injury, collision liability, pollution, port damage and towage. At Vectoris Legal we advise on P&I cover, manage claims against third parties and defend shipowners in claims brought by P&I Clubs or cargo interests.
Demurrage — the compensation payable when a vessel exceeds the agreed laytime for loading or discharging — is one of the most litigated areas of maritime law in Spain. Container detention charges — fees charged by carriers when containers are not returned within the free time — are a major source of disputes between liner carriers and Spanish importers and exporters. At Vectoris Legal we advise on laytime calculation, demurrage claims and container detention disputes, representing both carriers and cargo interests.
General average arises when a voluntary sacrifice is made or expenditure incurred for the common safety of the adventure. The adjustment process — governed by the York-Antwerp Rules — is complex and requires specialist advice for both shipowners contributing to the sacrifice and cargo interests receiving general average notices. Salvage of vessels and cargo at sea is governed by the International Salvage Convention 1989 and gives rise to specialist claims. We advise on both.
Port operations — loading, discharging, storage, transshipment — generate a specific liability regime involving port operators, terminal operators, stevedoring companies and cargo interests. At Vectoris Legal we advise on port service contracts and represent parties in disputes arising from port operations.
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