Maritime Law is a fundamental branch of law regulating navigation, maritime commerce, ship operation, and related commercial relations. Georgia, with its strategic Black Sea location, is a significant maritime and logistics hub. Consequently, maritime law services cover a wide range of issues—from ship registration and chartering to port regulations and agency services. This field concerns shipowners, charterers, maritime agents, forwarders, and investors.
What does General Maritime Law service cover?
This category combines corporate and regulatory support for maritime business:
- Ship Registration: Registering ships in the State Register of Georgia (flagging), mortgage registration, and flag change procedures.
- Chartering and Shipping: Drafting, analyzing, and negotiating maritime transport contracts (Charterparties - Time, Voyage, Bareboat). Legal assessment of Bill of Lading terms.
- Sale and Purchase (S&P): Executing ship sale and purchase agreements (e.g., Norwegian Saleform), closing procedures, and title transfer.
- Agency and Forwarding: Drafting agreements for maritime agents and forwarders, defining their liabilities and rights.
- Ports and Terminals: Relations with ports and terminals, lease agreements, and compliance with operational regulations.
Common Situations and Needs
Assistance from maritime lawyers is needed in daily business activities:
- Flag Choice: A shipowner wants to register a ship under the Georgian flag and needs advice on tax incentives and technical requirements.
- Chartering: An exporter wants to charter a ship to transport cargo and needs to agree on "Voyage Charter" terms to avoid high Demurrage.
- Dispute with Agent: A dispute arises between a shipowner and a port agent regarding the settlement of services rendered.
- Ship Purchase: An investor is buying a second-hand vessel and needs a guarantee that the ship is free of debts and mortgages.
Georgian Legislation and Regulations
The main source of the field is the Maritime Code of Georgia, which regulates navigation, crew, registration, chartering, and maritime liability. The Law on Maritime Spaces and the Law on Maritime Search and Rescue Service also apply. Ship registration and certification are carried out by the Maritime Transport Agency. In the commercial part, international standard forms (BIMCO, ASBA) are often used, adapted to Georgian reality, or English law is applied by agreement of the parties.
Service Process
Legal support includes:
- Structuring: Developing the legal structure of the transaction (e.g., ship purchase or chartering).
- Due Diligence: Checking the legal status of the ship in registries.
- Drafting: Drafting and negotiating specific maritime contracts.
- Registration: Submitting documents to the Maritime Transport Agency and obtaining the registration certificate.
Why Legal.ge?
Maritime business is global, and mistakes are costly. Legal.ge is a platform bringing together lawyers who understand not only the law but also the commercial language of the maritime industry. Our specialists will help you legally streamline your maritime operations, minimize risks, and achieve commercial goals.
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