Practice Areas

Maritime Litigation

Carlsmith Ball is well versed in the unique field of maritime law. Our attorneys have an unsurpassed record of resolving complex shipping cases such as groundings and oil spills, and settling related insurance issues. Carlsmith Ball maintains an international client base that spans the entire spectrum of the shipping, maritime, transportation, and marine insurance industries.

Our Maritime Litigation group represents clients in maritime disputes related to the following:

  • Act to Prevent Pollution from Ship
  • Correspondents for many Protection and Indemnity (P&I) and Hull & Machinery (H&M) Clubs/Insurers
  • Civil and criminal defense of claims under MARPOL and the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships
  • Defense of cargo claims
  • Defense of seamen’s wage and personal injury claims, including Jones Act claims, and third-party longshore claims
  • Finance and corporate matters disputes relating to Marshall Island shipping companies, and lenders
  • Foreclosure of vessel mortgages and maritime lien litigation
  • General legal advice to transportation clients, including compliance with U.S. and international laws, advice regarding commercial transactions, including permitting, and assistance with documentation for maritime and transportation industries.
  • Limitation of liability actions
  • Litigation of claims arising from groundings and collisions
  • Marine insurance claims and coverage litigation
  • Marine-related litigation and legal matters throughout the Pacific, including in Hawaii, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau, Guam, and Saipan
  • Port State control issues
  • Oil Pollution Act 1990 (OPA 90)
  • Ship finance
  • Shipping, transportation and port-related commercial matters
  • Maritime arrests and seizures throughout the Pacific, including in in Hawaii, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau, Guam, and Saipan