Maritime Law


At RPLF, We Skillfully Embrace the Challenges of Maritime Law, Providing thorough Legal Services and Sustainable Legal Protection for Our Clients in the Global Maritime Arena.






In today's world, where seas and oceans form the main arteries of international trade and the backbone of the global economy, legal complexities emerge as unique challenges that require a deep and specialized understanding of national and international laws, regulations, and standards. This context underscores the importance of national laws and international maritime conventions, which are essential for regulating operations and transactions within the maritime environment.




Maritime law provides a comprehensive regulatory framework covering all aspects of commercial maritime activity, from ship registration and ownership to shipping contracts that define responsibilities towards goods and passengers, not to mention legal liability in cases of ship accidents or maritime collisions, as well as issues of marine pollution and marine insurance.





International conventions enhance this framework, such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and conventions related to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which guide many vital aspects such as maritime safety standards, protection of the marine environment, and mechanisms for resolving maritime disputes. This ensures a balance between the interests of different parties and the protection of the marine environment for future generations.




In Egypt, where the maritime trade sector is a vital artery of the national economy, participants in this sector, including shipping companies, ports, insurance companies, and international trade companies, face a variety of complex legal challenges. Shipping companies require specialized legal consultations to ensure compliance with the new regulations and standards imposed by the Egyptian Authority for Maritime Safety, in addition to facing challenges related to marine insurance issues. On the other hand, ports seek the necessary legal support to efficiently handle issues related to mooring contracts and maritime logistics services. This complex legal landscape requires deep legal expertise to navigate through challenges and ensure smooth and effective operation of maritime commercial activities.



At Ragy & Partners - Attorneys & Counselors at Law LLP (“RPLF”), we take pride in providing our leading legal services in maritime law, as it is a fundamental pillar to ensure safe and effective operation of maritime trade processes. We are committed to delivering integrated and customized legal solutions that precisely meet the unique needs of our clients, whether they are shipping companies, port operators, or investors in this vital sector.



At RPLF, we ensure optimal legal support to guarantee the success and prosperity of our clients' businesses in the complex and evolving maritime context. We efficiently handle legal challenges related to State Port Control (SPC) procedures imposed by Egyptian and international authorities, ensuring strict compliance with applicable international standards and regulations. This ensures the smooth and safe passage of foreign ships through Egyptian ports without obstacles.


In addition, we offer legal consultations that cover all aspects of maritime customs, facilitating customs clearance for our clients and ensuring the efficient and timely flow of import and export operations. We are committed to providing the most effective legal solutions to meet the challenges of maritime law and ensure the sustained success of our clients in the maritime sector.


We commit to enabling our clients to access innovative and effective maritime financing solutions, specifically designed to meet their expansive ambitions and operational requirements. We provide advanced legal consultations on a wide range of maritime financing options, including ship finance leases and maritime mortgages, with the aim of finding the most suitable financial solutions for each client. We strive to guide our clients towards making informed financial decisions that contribute to the growth and prosperity of their maritime businesses, with an emphasis on full compliance with prevailing legal frameworks.


At RPLF, we understand the importance of maritime registration, ownership, and transactions related to maritime mortgages in ensuring the smooth operation of maritime commercial activities. Therefore, we are committed to providing comprehensive legal support to our clients, guiding, and representing them in all legal proceedings related to ship registration, transfer of ownership, and maritime mortgages, relying on deep expertise and comprehensive knowledge of both Egyptian and international maritime and commercial laws, to ensure proper execution of these critical operations and legal security for their maritime assets.


At RPLF, we offer our specialized legal expertise in maritime transportation to support shipping companies and insurance companies, by providing precise drafting of maritime transport contracts. We collaborate with our clients to ensure that these contracts are not only clear and accurate but also fully meet their commercial needs, with an effective distribution of risks and responsibilities among all relevant parties. Our expertise includes drafting a wide range of maritime shipping contracts, from general cargo shipping contracts and container shipping contracts to contracts for the transportation of hazardous goods, among others.


We recognize the importance of accuracy in detail and transparency in maritime transactions, and thus we ensure the inclusion of all necessary clauses that clearly reflect the rights and obligations of all parties, whether they are maritime transport operators, importers, or exporters. Our legal guidance also includes recommending best practices and strategies to protect our clients' interests in the face of potential legal challenges. We are committed to providing comprehensive and integrated legal solutions that support the success and prosperity of our clients in the global maritime arena.


At RPLF, we provide our clients with thorough and precise legal support in maritime liability issues, whether related to goods or passengers, in cases of damage, loss, or delay. We rely on established international rules such as the Hague-Visby Rules to ensure the protection of our clients' rights and the achievement of justice in liability claims.


We also offer our services to shipping companies and insurance companies to understand and accurately apply maritime insurance provisions, including hull insurance, machinery breakdown insurance, and maritime liability insurance. We work closely with marine insurance experts and average adjusters to provide accurate and fair loss assessments, whether related to goods or vessels, to ensure our clients receive maximum protection and appropriate compensation.


At RPLF, we specialize in providing in-depth legal advice on international legislation and treaties concerning the protection of the marine environment, such as the MARPOL Convention and the Civil Liability Convention for Oil Pollution. We ensure that our clients comply with international standards regulating marine pollution and provide guidance to avoid any violations that could lead to negative environmental impacts and harm to the companies' reputations.




We also support shipping companies in understanding and applying international maritime competition laws, emphasizing compliance with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) rules on restrictive business practices, which helps to ensure a fair and transparent competitive environment in maritime transportation.


Additionally, we provide legal advice on the rights and duties of maritime workers according to international standards, such as the Maritime Labour Convention of 2006, ensuring justice and legal protection for workers in this vital sector. We are committed to supporting our clients in adhering to the highest legal and ethical standards in all their maritime activities, with a focus on environmental protection and promoting fair and equitable labor in the maritime shipping industry.




Furthermore, at RPLF, we recognize the utmost importance of keeping our clients informed about the latest developments in maritime law and international standards. For this reason, we are committed to providing periodic maritime legal bulletins covering the most significant updates and changes in maritime law and related international conventions. These bulletins are designed to keep our clients aware of legal developments that may impact their maritime operations, from amendments to laws to new conventions and initiatives for the protection of the marine environment. Our initiative aims to empower our clients to make informed decisions and adapt smoothly to legal changes, ensuring the continuity of their operations efficiently and effectively in the constantly evolving and complex maritime shipping environment.



At RPLF, we represent our clients efficiently and effectively in international maritime arbitration and litigation before Egyptian and international courts, based on our deep expertise and comprehensive understanding of maritime laws. We adopt precise legal strategies to represent our clients effectively in the face of any maritime legal disputes that may arise, whether related to maritime collision cases, maritime arrests, or maritime rescue operations. We emphasize providing solid legal support to protect our clients' interests, guiding them towards the precise implementation of maritime safety obligations, risk management, and insurance.



We aim to ensure that all maritime operations are conducted within a strict legal and professional framework, meeting the highest standards, to enhance safety and efficiency in this vital sector.


We provide full legal support, relying on a deep understanding of local and international maritime laws and regulations, to help our clients navigate the waters of maritime law smoothly and confidently. Thanks to our extensive experience and dedication to protecting their interests, we are committed to exceeding expectations, offering legal solutions characterized by precision, efficiency, and innovation, while maintaining the highest levels of compliance and safety.




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