by Nurlan Agayev, Owner and Recovery Specialist, Alterlaw, and Gabrielė Vilemo Gotkovič

Vessels in quarantine, both empty and laden containers with restrictions on movement stuck in terminals, no boxes available on the market, country border lockdowns.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has already had a huge impact on the maritime industry worldwide, leading in many cases to delays or no deliveries at all, hence losses in production and an overall hit to the economy.

As such, carriers will, in all probability, face a rising wave of claims against them.

Invoking force majeure will probably be their primary line of defence.

However, it's not a silver bullet that can be shot absent-mindedly.

Download PDF