Insights
Legal Insights & Briefings
Practical analysis on ship arrest and maritime law in Egypt — written from the Suez Canal.
Can a Vessel Arrest Be Avoided in Egypt?
Even where an arrest is legally available, addressing the underlying claim at an early stage may help avoid it — timing is critical.
Read articleYour Container Arrived Late in Egypt. What Should You Do Before Losing Your Claim?
A delayed container does not automatically make the carrier liable — what you document about the cause of the delay often matters more than the number of days lost.
Read articleCan Egyptian Courts Arrest a Vessel Despite a Foreign Arbitration Agreement?
A foreign arbitration or jurisdiction clause does not, by itself, prevent the Egyptian courts from ordering the arrest of a vessel located in Egypt.
Read articleYou Paid Freight Prepaid, but the Carrier Is Asking for Thousands of Dollars More. Should You Pay?
"Freight Prepaid" on a bill of lading does not automatically block extra charges — nor does it make every extra demand illegitimate. The invoice and its contractual basis decide.
Read articleCan a Vessel Be Arrested in the Suez Canal?
Arrest is possible during a vessel’s Canal transit where a maritime claim arises from an incident occurring during passage — not from the transit itself.
Read articleThe Carrier Changed Your Container’s Route and Delivery Was Delayed. Are You Responsible for the Consequences?
A bill of lading may allow the carrier to reroute or transship cargo — but that right does not automatically clear it of liability for the resulting delay or damage.
Read articleCan a Vessel Be Arrested in Egypt Based on a Foreign Arbitral Award?
Egyptian courts have granted a conservatory arrest based on a foreign arbitral award, though enforcing the award itself remains a separate process.
Read articleYour Container Arrived at a Different Port. What Should You Do?
Finding out your container passed through an unexpected port is not proof of a carrier error — the Bill of Lading terms, and what the change actually cost you, decide that.
Read articleIs a P&I Letter of Undertaking Accepted to Release a Vessel from Arrest in Egypt?
In Egypt, a P&I Club Letter of Undertaking is not accepted as security for the release of an arrested vessel — an unconditional bank guarantee is required.
Read articleYour Container Arrived Damaged. What Should You Do Immediately?
Do not start negotiating a cargo-damage claim before you document the container, the seals, and the condition of the goods — and check the notice deadline immediately.
Read articleDoes the Egyptian Judge Have Discretion to Grant or Refuse a Vessel Arrest Order Without Giving Reasons?
Strong documentation does not make a vessel arrest order automatic — Egyptian judges generally have discretion and are not required to give reasons.
Read articleThe Cargo Looked Fine from Outside, but You Found Damage After Opening the Container. Have You Lost Your Claim?
Concealed damage discovered after opening a container does not mean the claim is lost — but it must be documented and notified immediately.
Read articleSuez Canal Oil Spill: How the Shindora Fish Farms Claim Was Won
In September 2006, an oil spill stretching from Kabrit to Shindora damaged the fishing grounds a whole cooperative depended on. Here is how that claim moved from spill to compensation.
Read articleThe Carrier Is Charging You Demurrage Even Though the Delay Was Not Your Fault. Is It Payable?
A demurrage demand is not automatically payable just because the carrier issued it — free time, arrival date, and who caused the delay all decide whether it is owed.
Read articleDefending a Shipowner Against Marine Pollution Claims in Egypt
A pollution incident in Egyptian waters exposes a shipowner on two fronts at once — regulatory and civil. Managing both together is usually what decides the outcome.
Read articleYour Container Is Being Held Because of a Dispute with the Carrier. How Can You Release the Cargo and Preserve Your Rights?
Releasing cargo held over disputed charges does not have to mean accepting the claim — the release can be secured while expressly preserving the right to dispute and recover.
Read articleThe Badr Al-Islam Tragedy: A Landmark Wrongful-Death Case in the Red Sea
On 14 December 2014, a fishing vessel sank in the Red Sea after colliding with a larger ship, killing 28 fishermen. The legal work that followed was pro bono, and it shaped how we think about representing families after a maritime tragedy.
Read articleYou Paid Additional Charges to Release Your Cargo. Can You Recover the Money?
Paying an additional charge to get cargo released does not automatically end the right to challenge it — the nature and contractual basis of the amount decide whether it can be recovered.
Read articleJudicial Sale of Vessels in Egypt: How Arrest Converts Into Recovery
An arrested vessel is only security for a claim, not payment of it. Judicial sale is the mechanism that turns that security into an actual recovery when the owner does not pay.
Read articleYour Cargo Arrived Short. Who Is Liable and How Do You Prove the Shortage?
A shortage claim is not established simply by comparing shipped and received quantities — proving when and where the shortage occurred is what decides liability.
Read articleYour Chocolate or Confectionery Shipment Melted at Sea. How Do You Prove Who Is Responsible?
A reefer container failure or a poor stowage decision can turn a chocolate or confectionery shipment into a total loss. The data logger, not the invoice, is usually what decides the claim.
Read articleYour Cargo Was Damaged During Sea Transport. Should You Claim Against the Carrier, the Insurer, or Both?
Before deciding who to sue over damaged cargo, establish when, where, and how the damage occurred — choosing the defendant too early can be a costly mistake.
Read articleHow Much Can You Recover for a Damaged Chocolate or Confectionery Shipment? Understanding the Carrier's Limitation of Liability
Even a clearly proven claim is often capped by law at a fraction of the cargo's real value — unless the shipper took one specific step before the goods were ever loaded.
Read articleThe Carrier Says the Cargo Was Already Damaged Before It Received It. How Do You Respond?
"The damage was already there" is a common carrier defense — the answer lies in the loading photos, seal records, and survey reports, not a bare denial.
Read articleYour Wheat Cargo Arrived at the Port but Was Not Released. Who Pays for the Delay?
A wheat shipment can arrive on time and still rack up demurrage and storage after arrival — identifying who caused the release delay is what decides who pays.
Read articleYour Wheat Cargo Arrived Wet or Caked. Is the Carrier Responsible?
Moisture in a grain shipment does not automatically make the carrier liable — survey reports and moisture readings at loading versus arrival decide when the damage actually occurred.
Read articleYour Corn Shipment Arrived Short. Did the Shortage Occur During Carriage or Discharge?
Proving that delivered corn is less than what was shipped is not enough on its own — comparing quantities at every stage from loading to discharge is what pins down liability.
Read articleYour Soybean Cargo Arrived Below the Agreed Quality. Can You Claim Against the Carrier?
A soybean quality shortfall may not be visible damage at all — the real question is whether the cargo was already non-conforming at loading or deteriorated during carriage.
Read articleMaritime Arbitration in Egypt: Place of Arbitration, Applicable Law and Enforcement
A practical legal guide for shipowners, carriers, charterers, cargo interests and P&I Clubs on maritime arbitration connected with Egypt.
Read articleYour Wheat, Corn, or Soybean Cargo Was Damaged During Discharge. Is the Carrier Liable?
A carrier is not automatically liable just because grain damage appeared at the port of destination — custody and control at the moment of damage is what decides responsibility.
Read articleYour Grain Shipment Arrived in Egypt but You Are Facing a Huge Bill of Additional Charges. Who Should Pay?
One combined invoice of demurrage, storage, and other grain-shipment charges does not mean the importer owes all of it — each amount needs its own basis examined separately.
Read articleCompetence-Competence in Maritime Arbitration: Jurisdiction of the Arbitral Tribunal under Egyptian Law
In maritime arbitration, a fundamental preliminary question is whether the arbitral tribunal has jurisdiction to hear and determine the dispute.
Read articleIndependence of the Maritime Arbitration Clause under Egyptian Arbitration Law
Does the invalidity or termination of the underlying maritime contract also invalidate its arbitration clause? Under Egyptian law, the answer is generally no.
Read articleThe Maritime Arbitration Clause by Reference: When is a Charterparty Arbitration Clause Incorporated into a Bill of Lading?
When does a reference in a Bill of Lading incorporate the arbitration clause contained in the Charterparty? The answer depends on the wording and legal effect of the incorporation.
Read articleWhen Customs Holds the Cargo: Who Bears the Consequences?
When a vessel arrives at an Egyptian port, a customs issue can quickly develop into a broader maritime and commercial dispute.
Read articleCustoms Valuation of Maritime Cargo: When Customs Disputes the Declared Value
In maritime trade, cargo may arrive at an Egyptian port with complete commercial documents, yet a dispute may arise because Customs challenges the declared value of the goods.
Read articleCustoms Classification of Maritime Cargo: When the HS Code Becomes a Dispute
A cargo may arrive at an Egyptian port with complete commercial and shipping documents, yet customs clearance may be delayed because Customs disputes the tariff classification or HS Code of the goods.
Read articleGrain Cargo Disputes: When Laboratory Results Differ from Shipping Documents
In shipments of wheat, corn, soybeans and other food-grade bulk commodities, disputes may arise when laboratory or inspection results differ from the specifications or information stated in the cargo documents.
Read articleRejected Cargo at the Port: Customs, Commercial or Maritime Dispute?
Cargo may arrive at an Egyptian port but subsequently be rejected or prevented from being released because of customs, regulatory or technical requirements.
Read articleCustoms Delays and Demurrage: Who Bears the Cost?
A vessel may be delayed at an Egyptian port because cargo has not been released by Customs due to a dispute over valuation, classification, documentation, inspection or clearance requirements.
Read articleCargo on Board: When Does Liability Extend to the Shipowner?
A customs issue affecting cargo does not necessarily make the shipowner responsible, nor does it automatically make the vessel liable for the consequences of the dispute.
Read articleContainer Cargo at Egyptian Ports: When the Manifest Does Not Match the Cargo
A container may arrive at an Egyptian port with a discrepancy between the Manifest, commercial documents and the actual cargo.
Read articleBulk Carriers and Customs: Where Does the Vessel's Responsibility Begin and End?
Bulk carriers handle cargoes that differ significantly from containerised or general cargo, particularly wheat, corn, soybeans and other food and strategic commodities.
Read articleStrategic Commodities: Why Customs Clearance Can Be More Complex
Shipments of wheat, corn, soybeans and other food and strategic commodities may require particular attention when arriving at Egyptian ports.
Read articleBefore Shipping Cargo to Egypt: Key Customs Issues Foreign Exporters Should Know
Shipping cargo to Egypt may appear straightforward, but some customs problems arising at the port of arrival can actually begin before the cargo leaves the port of export.
Read articleShipping Cargo to Egypt: Who Is Responsible for Customs Clearance?
Cargo may arrive at an Egyptian port and a dispute may arise over who is responsible for customs clearance and the procedures required for its release.
Read articleCargo Detained in Egypt: What Should a Foreign Shipper Do?
Cargo may arrive at an Egyptian port and subsequently be detained or prevented from being released because of an issue concerning documentation, classification, valuation, inspection or other customs or regulatory requirements.
Read articleYour Cargo Is Delayed at an Egyptian Port: Who Pays the Extra Costs?
Cargo may be delayed at an Egyptian port due to a customs procedure, inspection, missing documentation or a regulatory approval.
Read articleWhen the Charterer's Cargo Creates a Customs Problem for the Shipowner
The cargo carried by a vessel may belong to the charterer, shipper or importer, yet a customs issue concerning that cargo may nevertheless affect the vessel or expose the shipowner to claims or proceedings.
Read articleCustoms Fines Against the Vessel: Can the Shipowner Be Held Responsible for Cargo Issues?
When a customs violation or claim arises from cargo, the shipowner's position may be more complex than simply asking who owns the goods.
Read articleWhen Cargo Documents Are Wrong: Protecting the Shipowner from the Charterer's Mistake
A documentary error may create a customs problem even where the shipowner was not responsible for preparing the cargo documents.
Read articleCharterer-Appointed Shipping Agents: How Can a Shipowner Protect Itself?
Where a shipping agent is appointed by the charterer, the shipowner may find itself dealing with customs or port procedures carried out by an agent it did not personally select.
Read articleRejected or Detained Cargo: Protecting Your Rights Before Egyptian Customs
Cargo arriving in Egypt may face rejection, detention, re-inspection or a request for additional documents or information.
Read articleACI and Foreign Exporters: What Can Go Wrong Before the Vessel Sails?
The Advance Cargo Information (ACI) system has become an important part of the import process into Egypt. As a result, some customs problems may begin before the cargo is loaded on board.
Read articleIncorrect ACI Data: Who Bears the Risk?
Under the ACI system, an error in cargo data or electronic documentation may create an issue that goes beyond simply correcting the information.
Read articleACI and the Bill of Lading: What Happens When the Data Does Not Match?
Maritime shipments involve several key documents, including the bill of lading, Manifest, commercial documents and ACI data.
Read articleEgypt's Advanced Export System: What Should Shipping Stakeholders Know?
Egypt is developing its electronic export procedures through the Advanced Export System, with the aim of automating and streamlining export procedures and electronically connecting the relevant parties.
Read articlePractical Maritime Tax Issues — Part 5: Double Taxation in International Maritime Transport
A single maritime transaction may connect several jurisdictions at once. Understanding which country can tax what — and whether a treaty applies — is essential for shipping companies, agents and service providers.
Read articlePractical Maritime Tax Issues — Part 4: When Can Wrongfully Withheld or Deducted Tax Amounts Be Reclaimed?
Amounts deducted as tax in maritime transactions are not always legally final. When the legal basis is uncertain, a detailed review may reveal grounds for challenge and recovery.
Read articlePractical Maritime Tax Issues — Part 3: Does Appointing a Shipping Agent Create a Tax Exposure for a Foreign Shipping Company?
Foreign shipping companies regularly appoint local agents. But depending on the agent's authority and conduct, that relationship may create a taxable presence or permanent establishment.
Read articlePractical Maritime Tax Issues — Part 2: When Do Container-Related Services Form Part of International Carriage by Sea?
Container handling, storage, loading and logistics may be treated as part of international maritime transport or as separate taxable services — the distinction has real tax consequences.
Read articlePractical Maritime Tax Issues — Part 1: When Container Charges Become a Tax Issue in Egyptian Ports
Terminal handling charges and other port-related services can shift from routine operational costs into complex tax questions — especially for foreign shipping companies operating in Egypt.
Read articleTime Charters under Egyptian Maritime Law: Control, Hire, Off-Hire and Redelivery
Time charters divide a vessel's navigational management, which stays with the shipowner, from its commercial employment, which passes to the charterer — a distinction at the centre of disputes over hire, availability, instructions and redelivery under Egyptian Maritime Trade Law.
Read articleEver Given: Six Days That Stopped World Trade — A Suez Vantage Point
On 23 March 2021, a single grounded container ship sealed one of the world’s busiest trade arteries. We were on the ground in Suez when it happened — and for the hundreds of vessels trapped behind it, the real legal work was only beginning.
Read articleMarine Pollution Liability in Egypt: What Shipowners and Fisheries Face
Egyptian waters carry heavy vessel traffic past sensitive fisheries and lakes. When a spill happens, liability runs in more than one direction — and speed of response often decides the outcome.
Read articleMarine Insurance Claims in Egypt: The Sequence That Decides the Outcome
A cargo shipment worth millions can sit delayed for weeks over one disputed insurance clause — and most of that delay is avoidable.
Read articleBills of Lading in Egypt: What the Document Actually Controls
A bill of lading is receipt, contract and title document at once — and in a cargo dispute, which role it is playing at that moment often decides the case.
Read articleGeneral Average: When Everyone on Board Shares the Loss
When a vessel’s master sacrifices cargo or incurs extraordinary expense to save the voyage, the cost is shared by everyone who benefited — a centuries-old principle that still governs major incidents today.
Read articleShip Arrest in Egypt: A Practical Guide
What it takes to arrest a vessel in Egyptian ports — the legal basis, the documents, and why hours matter.
Read articleSister-Ship Arrest under Egyptian Law
When the debtor’s vessel is out of reach, Egyptian law may allow you to arrest her sister — if you can prove common ownership.
Read articleReleasing an Arrested Vessel: Guarantees and Alternatives
For owners, every day under arrest costs money. The routes to release — and how to choose between them.
Read articleUnpaid Bunkers: Arresting for Marine Fuel Claims in Egypt
Bunker suppliers are among the most frequent arrest claimants in Egyptian ports. How to convert an unpaid invoice into security.
Read articleP&I Club Letters of Undertaking, Bank Guarantees and Counter-Security in Egyptian Ship Arrest
How Egyptian courts treat P&I Club Letters of Undertaking, bank guarantees, and counter-security in ship arrest and release proceedings.
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