DJ Dickinson & Associates is a Law Firm specializing in international trade, maritime & shipping law which has over 31 years of experience – in a vast array of international transport related matters.

Senior Associate Dave Dickinson has been involved in the Maritime Law and International Transport Industry since 1983. He spent 18 years with Grindrods Shipping during which time he was extensively involved in joint ventures, cargo claims, charter party disputes, ship repairs and ship building, customs, collisions, vessel casualties, salvage and arrests of vessels and cargo as well as marine environmental matters both in South Africa and in various other jurisdictions throughout the world. We have also been involved in a number of successful liquidations and insolvencies.

BProc Dip Tax UNISA Dip Maritime Law and completed examinations in Master Of Maritime Law - University of Natal.

The firm has acted inter alia:

1. For Chevron, Shell Marine and acted against British Petroleum.

2. On behalf of the owners of MFV “Galaecia” culminating in the change in admiralty practice.

3. The listed Cypriot Company Ocean Tankers and its dispute with the Royal Bank of Scotland.

The firm had effected the first major arrest of the passenger liner the Olympia Countess on behalf of Turkish Agents and was instrumental in her sale and resale.

Mr Dickinson, the Senior Associate has also been involved in the Salvage of the Oil Rig “Actinia” and the capsizing of the offshore supply vessel “Voortrekker”.

Recently, Senior Associate Dave Dickinson was invited to chair a presentation on behalf of the Lloyd’s Maritime Academy which was held in Cape Town on the 5th – 6th of December 2013. He was also invited to give a presentation to the Maritime Law Association of the United States in New York on the 30th of April 2014.

1. Extremely wide jurisdiction probably the widest in the world;

2. Not only sister ships can be arrested but also associate directly/indirectly owned vessels are subject to arrest as well;

3. Security may be claimed for any maritime claim contemplated anywhere in the world;

4. Property arrested falls out of liquidation;

5. A considerable number of creditors rank ahead of the Mortgagor.

The recent arrests that the Firm was involved in include:

The MV “Snow Petrel”

The MV “Reflect Scorpio”

The MV “Genesis”

The MV “Sea Moon”

The MV “Denny Z”

In the case of the MV Reflect Scorpio, the firm was responsible for the proper interpretation of the ranking of creditors claiming against a fund. The Firm has acted for innumerable purchasers of the vessels which were facilitated without problems.

The Firm conducts searches of vessels and information pertaining to Maritime claims is conducted on a confidential basis on behalf of a number of Maritime Intelligence Agencies.