Admiralty, charter parties, and cargo claims — on shipping timeframes.
Quillio knows the Admiralty Act, Navigation Act, COGSA, Marine Insurance Act, and the charter party and cargo claims patterns Australian maritime lawyers handle.
Quillio is an AI legal assistant for Australian maritime and shipping lawyers. I am trained on the Admiralty Act 1988 (Cth), Navigation Act 2012 (Cth), Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1991 (Cth), Marine Insurance Act 1909 (Cth), and current Federal Court admiralty authority. Use me for charter party disputes, cargo claims, ship arrest proceedings, and shipping casualty response.
Why maritime and shipping lawyers use Quillio
Maritime practice runs on international conventions implemented through AU legislation, short time bars, and high-value cargo and hull claims. I know the Hague-Visby Rules (as implemented by COGSA), the Admiralty Act in rem jurisdiction, and the Navigation Act safety regime. I draft charter party claims, cargo claims, and arrest applications under time pressure.
Statutes and authorities
Key statutes
- Admiralty Act 1988 (Cth)
- Navigation Act 2012 (Cth)
- Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1991 (Cth)
- Marine Insurance Act 1909 (Cth)
- Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 1983 (Cth)
- Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003 (Cth)
- Shipping Registration Act 1981 (Cth)
Leading cases
- The Shin Kobe Maru (1994) 181 CLR 404 (Admiralty Act jurisdiction)
- Comandate Marine Corp v Pan Australia Shipping Pty Ltd (2006) 157 FCR 45 (arbitration and admiralty)
- Dampskibsselskabet Norden A/S v Beach Building & Civil Group Pty Ltd (2013) 216 FCR 469 (arbitration stay)
- Great China Metal Industries Co Ltd v Malaysian International Shipping Corporation Berhad (1998) 196 CLR 161 (Hague-Visby Rules)
- Patrick Stevedores No 2 Pty Ltd v MUA (1998) 195 CLR 1 (waterfront industrial dispute)
Maritime and Shipping Law workflows
Charter party disputes
Time and voyage charter party disputes including demurrage, off-hire, and performance claims.
Reads the charter party and the voyage events, runs the laytime calculation, and drafts claims or defences with current authority on demurrage and off-hire.
Cargo claims
Cargo claims under bills of lading and the Hague-Visby Rules as implemented by COGSA.
Applies the Hague-Visby framework to the cargo claim facts, assesses defences (inherent vice, perils of the sea, fire), and drafts claim or defence material.
Ship arrest and admiralty
Ship arrest proceedings in the Federal Court under the Admiralty Act 1988.
Drafts writ in rem, caveat, and affidavit in support. Applies current Federal Court admiralty authority including The Shin Kobe Maru.
Marine casualty response
Grounding, collision, pollution, and salvage casualty response including regulator coordination.
Produces the casualty legal playbook, coordinates with AMSA under MARPOL and Navigation Act, and drafts initial correspondence with regulators and insurers.
Marine insurance and subrogation
Hull, cargo, and P&I claims under the Marine Insurance Act 1909.
Applies the Marine Insurance Act framework (warranties, disclosure, proximate cause) to the claim and drafts the cover opinion or subrogation claim.
Document types Quillio handles
- Writs in rem and caveats
- Affidavits in support of ship arrest
- Charter party claims
- Cargo claim letters of demand
- Marine insurance cover opinions
- Salvage and towage agreements
- Letters of undertaking
- Casualty legal playbooks
- AMSA correspondence
Admiralty is Commonwealth under the Admiralty Act, with jurisdiction in the Federal Court of Australia. The Navigation Act, COGSA, and Marine Insurance Act are Commonwealth. State courts also have admiralty jurisdiction. International conventions (Hague-Visby, MARPOL, COLREGS, LLMC 1976) are implemented through AU legislation.
Questions maritime and shipping lawyers actually ask Quillio
Maritime and Shipping Law FAQs
Does Quillio cover the Hague-Visby Rules as implemented by COGSA?
Yes. I apply the Hague-Visby Rules (as modified by COGSA) including the Article III obligations, Article IV exceptions, package and kilo limitations, and time bar.
Can Quillio draft ship arrest material under time pressure?
Yes. Ship arrests are time-critical. I draft writs in rem, caveats, affidavits in support, and letters of undertaking quickly while you coordinate with the marshal and P&I.
Is Quillio current on Admiralty Act authority?
Yes. I am current on Federal Court and Full Federal Court admiralty decisions including The Shin Kobe Maru, Comandate Marine, and recent jurisdiction and arbitration interaction cases.
Does Quillio handle marine insurance claims?
Yes. Hull, cargo, and P&I claims under the Marine Insurance Act 1909, including the interaction with the Insurance Contracts Act exclusion for marine insurance.
Can Quillio support casualty response?
Yes. Casualty legal playbooks, AMSA coordination under the Navigation Act and MARPOL, and initial correspondence with regulators, salvors, and insurers.
Is Quillio safe for confidential shipping material?
Yes. SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001. Australian-hosted. Charter parties, casualty material, and P&I correspondence stay on Australian soil.
Try Quillio on a current matter.
For maritime and shipping lawyers, the fastest way to know if Quillio fits is to run it across a current charter party dispute or cargo claim. Start the free trial at /free-trial — no credit card, no sales call.
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