Maritime Law
As a long-standing leader in the maritime sector, Zunarelli – Studio Legale Associato draws upon the expertise of university professors and professionals who have organized, chaired, and presented at numerous national and international conferences on maritime law. The Firm’s specialists have served on ministerial committees and, as representatives of the Italian government, have actively contributed to the work of major supranational organizations (UN, IMO, UNCITRAL, and UNCTAD) drafting key international conventions, thereby playing a pivotal role in shaping both national and international maritime law.
With over thirty years of experience, the Firm provides a comprehensive range of assistance and consulting services, both in court and out-of-court. Its clientele includes Italian and international shipowners, P&I Clubs, Ministries, Port System Authorities, insurers, banking institutions, multinational acting as principals, charterers, freight forwarders, shipping agents and brokers, shipyards, terminal operators, offshore platform operators, and providers of technical and nautical services.
We manage all aspects of maritime goods transportation, assisting clients in drafting and negotiating contracts and resolving disputes related to cargo loss or damage, delayed or failed delivery, transport of hazardous materials, and the payment of demurrage and detention fees arising from the consignee’s delayed or failed container pickup at the destination port.
The Firm provides specialized legal advice and assistance in the field of maritime passenger transport, protecting the interests of shipowners, tour operators, shipping companies, and passengers in all related disputes.
We support our clients in managing compensation claims for passenger and crew injuries or personal harm, damage or loss of luggage, cancellations or delays of transport services, and other adverse events occurring during transportation.
We provide specialized advice in drafting and negotiating shipbuilding contracts, assisting clients from design to delivery stages. Our experts ensure compliance with applicable safety and quality regulations, and handle disputes between clients and shipyards related to delays, defects, or vessel non-conformities.
Additionally, we offer consultancy services for drafting and negotiating ship sale and purchase agreements, supported by a team of international experts working in accordance with the best industry practices.
The Firm provides highly specialized legal advice in drafting, negotiating, and reviewing ship leasing contracts (bareboat charters) and ship charter agreements (time charters, voyage charters), as well as ship management agreements. We offer ongoing assistance in resolving issues related to contract execution, regulation of contractual obligations, and management of any disputes, including arbitration proceedings.
We provide legal assistance in initiating judicial and precautionary attachment proceedings of vessels to protect maritime claims. We also support our clients throughout the release process, from obtaining the court order to the execution of the vessel’s release.
We assist shipowners, ship managers, and crew members in all matters relating to maritime employment relationships, including the drafting and updating of crew employment contracts in compliance with national legislation, the Italian Navigation Code, and international conventions (MLC 2006, ILO).
We provide advice on the legal framework of seafarers, management of disciplinary proceedings, resolution of individual and collective disputes concerning wage claims, accident at works, and occupational diseases, as well as issues related to safety, working conditions, and welfare on board.
The Firm provides highly specialized legal assistance in handling all types of maritime accidents, including collisions, impacts, fire on board, sinkings, general avarage, and environmental incidents. We also offer support in proceedings related to the limitation of shipowner’s liability and general average.
The Firm provides legal assistance in structuring, negotiating, and finalizing ship financing and maritime leasing transactions aimed at the acquisition, construction, or refinancing of vessels. We advise shipowners, banking institutions, leasing companies, and investors, handling every stage of the transaction, from legal due diligence to drafting and reviewing ship mortgage loan agreements, sale & leaseback contracts, letters of credit, and security packages.
Notable cases
We assist maritime operators and exporters in ensuring compliance with container weighing requirements (Verified Gross Mass, VGM) under the SOLAS Convention 1974, as amended by MSC Resolution 380 (94) of 21 November 2014.
We provide assistance to freight forwarders in disputes related to the payment of demurrage and detention fees for delayed or failed container pickup by the consignee at the port of destination. We have represented an Italian charterer in arbitration proceedings concerning the payment of demurrage under a voyage charter.
We have assisted several leading companies operating in the maritime transport sector, both for goods and passengers, at national and international level in preparing an appeal before the Administrative Regional Court (TAR) seeking the annulment of measures adopted by the Italian Transport Regulatory Authority (ART) regarding the request for payment of the annual contribution for the Authority’s operations.
We have provided legal advice to a public research institute regarding the interpretation and execution of the charter party for the research vessel it owns.
We have provided legal advice to the Department of Justice of a Western government on alleged damages suffered by a vessel flying the flag of its State as a result of orders issued by an Italian naval ship on a UN mission abroad.
We have represented an Italian shipowner in arbitration proceedings concerning the criteria for determining the value of the shares of a shipowning company at the time of the shareholders’ decision to divide the company’s assets.
We have advised a European Shipowners’ Confederation regarding the regulations on the treatment of waste on board ships during their stay at Italian ports. Additionally, we advised on the legal aspects of vessel traffic monitoring by the Maritime Authority in light of international, EU, and domestic law regulations.
We have advised an Italian shipowner on the scope of application of Regulation (EC) No. 392/2009, with particular reference to provisions concerning the compulsory insurance coverage. Specifically, our assistance focused on insurance policies issued under the 2002 Athens Convention, the 1992 Civil Liability Convention, and the 2001 Bunker Oil Convention, as well as agreements with the involved P&I Clubs.
We provide legal advice to companies operating in the technical-nautical services sector, supporting them in the drafting of contracts and the resolution of legal issues related to the conduct of their maritime activities.
We support shipowners and maritime operators in managing issues related to PSC (Port State Control) inspections, providing comprehensive assistance in all follow-up activities.
We have provided out-of-court legal assistance to clients commissioning the construction of pleasure boats, particularly in drafting the shipbuilding contracts and supporting them throughout negotiations with the shipyard.
