The Law of Shipbuilding Contracts

This is the leading text on shipbuilding and marine construction, already widely used on a global basis by shipowners, shipbuilders and their commercial and legal advisers.

It is now ten years since the last edition and much has changed in the world of shipbuilding since then, particularly in the period since 2008 which has seen numerous attempts by owners to renegotiate the prices and/or delivery dates of tonnage and an enormous increase in the level of “vessel rejection” and cancellation disputes.

The Law of Shipbuilding Contracts examines the principles of English contract law as these apply to shipbuilding. This edition comments in detail upon the Shipbuilders’ Association of Japan Form but now contrasts this with the NEWBUILDCON from BIMCO in 2007 and the China Maritime Arbitration Commission Forms from 2011 where these are significantly different. It also includes sections dealing with agreements ancillary to the shipbuilding contract and conversion contracts.

Overview of book:

• Since the last edition in 2002, China has become a major global exporter of newbuildings and new BIMCO shipbuilding contract form has been published.

• Although retaining the original format of commentary on the Japanese (SAJ) standard form shipbuilding contract, the new edition contrasts this with the BIMCO form and the recently published China Maritime Arbitration Commission (CMAC) form in order to provide a broad ranging analysis of this complex subject.

• The book details the principles of English contract law as these apply to international shipbuilding.

• It will, as in the previous editions, also include sections dealing with the guarantees and other agreements which support the shipbuilding contract and with ship conversion contracts

Essential reading for:

- Purchasers and charterers of newbuilding tonnage

- Shipbuilders and offshore construction yards

- Lawyers and insurers working in the maritime and offshore oil and gas sectors

- Banks and other finance providers