Maritime and Transport

LOGOS can provide numerous experts in various areas of maritime and transport law to fully address every legal issue relating to the transportation of goods, whether on sea, land or air.

In the field of shipping law in particular, we act on matters relating to Contracts of Carriage, Bills of Lading, Charterparties, Stevedore Contracts, Shipbuilding Contracts, Sale and Purchase Agreements, Registration, Salvage, General Average, Collision, Personal Injury, Cargo Claims and Cargo and Hull Insureance.

A major focus of our work involves advising and representing our largest client, Eimskipafélag Íslands hf. (Eimskip), the largest shipping company in Iceland, and its subsidiaries in Iceland, like Eimskip Ísland ehf. and TVG Zimsen ehf. (freight forwarder). Eimskip has been a client of LOGOS since its foundation in 1914.

Over the years we have assisted both Icelandic and international shipping and fishing companies, as well as P&I Clubs, insurance companies and individuals on shipping and transport related issues.

Other clients in this field include Skeljungur hf., Landhelgisgæsla Íslands (The Icelandic Coast Guard), Tryggingamiðstöðin hf. (Icelandic insurance company), Sjóvá-Almennar tryggingar hf. (Icelandic insurance company), Nesskip, Dregg Shipping and foreign insurance companies and P&I clubs.

All maritime and transport related matters are handled by the partner Einar Baldvin Axelsson, who also handles all court cases in the area of maritime and transport law which Eimskip is involved in.

Work highlights for Eimskip from September 2010 until August 2011:

• Stranding of “M/V Goðafoss” in February 2011, advice in regard to salvage (LOF), general average and contracts of repair.
• Stranding of “M/V Reykjafoss” in April 2011; advice in regard to general average and claims against the owners of the vessel.
• Shipbuilding contracts in China in June until August 2011 for two new container vessels for delivery in 2013; drafting of the shipbuilding contracts, advice during negotiations and completion of the contracts and Refund Guarantees.
• Representing Eimskip in the District court and the Supreme court of Iceland regarding lien on cargo under bills of lading.
• Representing Eimskip in the District court regarding personal injury in Eimskip´s warehouse in Reykjavík.
• General advice in relation to charter parties.
• General advice in relation to cargo claims.
• Review and draft update of Eimskip´s terms and conditions for carriage; new Bills of Lading and Sea Waybills.
• Review and draft update of Eimskip´s terms and conditions for domestic road transport due to new act on road transport No. 40/2010.
• Draft new terms and conditions for customs brokerage.

Other work:

• The Icelandic Coast Guard; construction of a new coast guard vessel in Chile, for delivery in September 2011; advising on claims for delay, extension of the contract and the Refund Guarantee.
• Tryggingamiðstöðin (Icelandic insurance company); representing the company in the District court against Samskip hf. (Carrier) in relation to cargo claim under a Bill of lading.
• Sjóvá-Almennar Tryggingar (Icelandic insurance company); claims against owners of „M/V Bro Glory“ and its P&I club in relation to damage to oil products during discharge in Hafnarfjörður, Iceland in 2010.
• Dregg Shipping; various advise on maritime law, including completion of general average in relation to the stranding of „M/V Axel“ in November 2007.
• Skeljungur hf. (oil company); advising on cargo claims.
• Svitzer Salvage BV; assistance in relation to salvage claim.
• Shell International; advising on issues regarding oil search.
• Einar Baldvin Axelsson is a member of the board of the Icelandic Maritime Society.

Leading partners:
Einar Baldvin Axelsson
Erlendur Gislason
Petur Gudmundarson