Articles

Simon Tatham imagines an owner with a conscience giving a charterer a late-night dose of reality. “Good evening Frank – it’s Bill here, sorry to call so late. We’ve not spoken. We’re the owners of that new PSV you people have just employed working your rigs offshore Nigeria. I sit in operations here in Oslo…

Tug owners can use the lien clause if hirers fail to pay, say solicitor Simon Tatham and Mike Lacey, who originally drafted TOWCON, of TugAdvise See full article

April 2013 The Wreck Removal Convention still needs ratification by four more nations before it comes into force, but when it does, it will be game-changing, says Simon Tatham. The recent sinking in UK waters of, reportedly, an uninsured vessel, the 1,700 GRT ship Emsstrom under tow to Turkey for scrapping, has attracted the attention…

Increasingly port authorities are insisting on escort tug arrangements for visiting tankers, a trend that has gathered pace in recent years albeit long since the groundings of the Sea Empress and Exxon Valdez highlighted the potential benefit. Around the UK coast compulsory escort arrangements are in force under local harbour regulations and much the same…

One of the problems in ocean towage almost guaranteed to give rise to hypertension, is when a long delay occurs in either the tug or tow being ready at the port of departure. Take for example a scrap tow from a remote port. Lets assume first that the Tugowner is the good guy and that…

Simon Tatham explores the differences between the two revised agreements and their older forms, and states ‘neither set is likely to be agreed without amendment’. Here he explores the issues and explains his standpoint. In 2008 the TOWCON and TOWHIRE agreements were revised. Why is it then that the older forms are still being occasionally…

Simon Tatham takes a look at the of both owner and hirer under deepsea towage contracts.  Using a scrap tow as an example, he explains why disputes over long delays are rarely straightforward to resolve. One of the problems in ocean towage almost guaranteed to give rise to hypertension, is when a long delay occurs…

Environmental salvage is firmly in the headlines, and everyone involved seems to have a strong word to say, either for or against. In his regular column Simon Tatham wades into the argument and outlines both sides of the deliberation.  One thing is certain: it is not easy being green, of finding a happy compromise. I…

Wednesday 5 December 2012 IT IS rare in practice that provisions of the 1989 International Salvage Convention fall under the judicial spotlight. Many are familiar with the famous provisions of Article 13 in assessing salvage awards and others are only too happy to forget the infamous Article 14 killed off, in effect, by the incorporation…

One of the scenarios explored in Simon Tatham’s paper at ITS 2012 Barcelona involved a harbour tug deviating from a coastal passage to assist a bulk carrier in distress. Here he explains more as he considers common law salvage claims. One of the salvage case scenarios explored at my talk during a very enjoyable week at…