Trading Straits

Getting into offshore: Financing vessels for energy projects

The demand for large-scale offshore energy – including oil, wind and solar – is presenting opportunities for companies that supply vessels. Transportation lawyers Susan Riitala and Catriona Henderson discuss the unique dynamics of financing vessels for offshore energy operations, the special risks it presents, the importance of having trusted partners, and other solutions to major problems. Tune in for a concise, insightful look at the booming world of offshore energy.

Maritime carbon emissions: Inclusion in the EU emissions trading scheme

Partners Nick Austin and Brett Hillis and counsel Julie Vaughan explain key features of the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and how it is now to be applied to ships entering and leaving EU ports – and those sailing between them. In this podcast, they discuss the implications for charterers, possibilities for trading emissions allowances and the relevance of financial regulation.

Breaking bottlenecks at the border: Preventing FCPA allegations

Customs has taken on heightened significance with respect to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) compliance and risk management for many global businesses. We are tapping the knowledge of two former federal prosecutors from the U.S. Justice Department to help provide useful insights. Regulatory enforcement lawyers Daniel Ahn and Mark Bini discuss their experience in matters involving allegations of bribery and corruption brought by federal and state governments and explain the key issues that companies should look out for at the border. They analyze the FCPA, discuss customs issues, and show how attention to compliance and due diligence help prevent allegations of corruption.

Decarbonization technology: Risks in superyacht construction and financing

Transportation lawyers Philip Rymer, Thor Maalouf and Romain Farnoux discuss issues arising from the incorporation of new technologies – specifically, ones designed to reduce carbon emissions – in superyachts, including the risks of new designs and their potential impact on construction terms and financing arrangements.

Are you deforestation-free? New supply chain obligations approaching in the EU

A new EU regulation will come into force on June 29, 2023, imposing onerous due diligence requirements for businesses buying and selling products made from seven common commodities: cocoa, coffee, cattle, soy, rubber, palm oil, and timber, or the raw commodities themselves.

For timber, the regulation replaces an earlier law, but for the remaining commodities, it is cutting new ground. In this podcast, Julie Vaughan and Nicolas Walker from our environmental team lead you through how it all works.

Alternative fuels in the shipping industry: What does the future hold?

Transportation lawyers Mike Adamson and Laura Hyne discuss the use of alternative fuels in the maritime industry, including the potential challenges and benefits of using greener fuels, as well as new regulatory and legislative developments.

Shipping, energy, and the impact of wartime sanctions

Partners Alex Brandt (London) and James Willn (Dubai) discuss how international sanctions against Russia are impacting the shipping and energy sectors. They cover the sanctions’ effects on industry, the situation’s impact on the Middle East, and the challenges of dealing with inconsistencies in the EU, UK, and U.S. approaches. 

This episode was recorded on February 14 and does not take into consideration any guidance/updates published after that date.

LNG and bunker storage poised for growth

Partners Kevin Keenan and Antonia Panayides discuss the market for bunkering facilities and vessels. LNG is poised to expand – thanks to technological advances and market demand for cleaner fuel. But that expansion must take into account international commitments to reduce CO2 emissions. Kevin and Antonia explain the latest developments in the space and the key points that shipowners, charterers, and their counsel should consider in order to avoid pitfalls.

Proof of performance on environmental protection: Shipping and transportation

The legal and regulatory bars are getting higher around green finance and carbon finance. When seeking funding, industry participants must do more to prove their environmental achievements. 

Susan Riitala and Rob Lustrin from our Transportation Industry Group, and Brett Hillis, from our Energy and Natural Resources Group, discuss green finance structures and substantiating environmental claims in the shipping, transportation and ENR industries.

Shipbuilding law (part 3): Warranty claims and cancelling orders or enforcing delivery

In the final of three episodes on shipbuilding law, Sally-Ann Underhill and Thor Maalouf discuss the circumstances under which a buyer can cancel a shipbuilding contract, as well as the options that are available for the yard. They also discuss warranty claims, including typical wording found in warranty provisions and time limits.