In my article in Issue 35 of Ocean Magazine titled “Fire In The Hold” I discussed the issue of piracy as a re-emerging phenomenon and whether private boat-owners should choose to arm themselves as a means of protection. Since this article, reports from the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) indicate that the frequency of piracy incidents have not waned. In fact,…
A shipmasters’ obligation when rendering assistance on the high seas. A luxury cruise ship, ‘The Star Princess’ recently made a splash in international maritime news for all the wrong reasons. Immediately after the incident various organisations reported a fishing vessel had signalled the cruise ship and three bird watching passengers, who had informed the crew that they saw a fishing…
My law firm has been contacted over the years by a numerous businesses having trouble getting payment for work completed. In many cases they have attempted using debt collectors with less than favourable outcomes and by the time my firm has been contacted events generally are moving so fast that in essence the ability to secure the debt becomes harder.…
“It’s the ONLY thing,” said the Water Rat solemnly, as he leant forward for his stroke. “Believe me, my young friend, there is NOTHING–absolutey nothing–half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” (Kenneth Grahame 1859-1932) The romantic notion that Grahame conjures up in his novel ‘Wind In The Willows’ often forms the basis of the decision making…
The Australian Consumer Laws (ACL) has indeed changed the marine business seascape with amongst many changes; contractual terms and consumer guarantees being discussed below with a view to helping your business navigate its way with some practical tips. Part 1 What sort of contract should my business use? Apart from purchasing a home purchasing a boat is the second largest…
It is a popular expectation and a folklore tradition on the high seas that the captain of a ship should always go down with it, risking their own life in order to ensure the safety and welfare of their passengers. But in the modern shipping world is this still the case? For family and friends who lost loved ones on…
A New Year heralds in a challenging year for business with growing economic uncertainty and troubled markets and while surviving these uncertainties is an important part of running a business; this job can be made easier by considering the known variables within the business. An employer’s legal obligation in respect to employment is one such known variable that business owners…
Let’s face facts – owning a boat is an exercise in expense. There’s the ever-rising cost of fuel, the marina, storage or transportation fees, registration, insurance, and the seemingly endless upkeep and maintenance costs. As a lawyer, I often come across clients who’ve fallen into the trap of buying into the boating dream without fully appreciating the true costs associated…
Over seventy-nine years ago, in the Scottish town of Paisley, a young woman was meeting with a friend at a local café when she decided to order a bottle of ginger beer. After drinking a glass of the refreshing beverage, she started to pour herself a refill from the opaque bottle, when out flew the decomposing body of a snail.…
Bedazzled by what are perceived as bargain basement prices, increasing numbers of private purchasers are turning online for new and second-hand vessels in the USA and other enticing countries as a result of a strong Aussie dollar. But along with this new found freedom of expanded marine markets has come a litany of consumer problems, as unsuspecting purchasers throw caution…