UK Defence Club - News

UK ETS is on the horizon

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:57:00 +0000

In accordance with The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (Extension to Maritime Activities) Order 2026, the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (“UK ETS”) will extend to the maritime sector from 1st July, 2026. This will be a significant regulatory change for ship operators calling at UK ports. The UK ETS largely mirrors the EU ETS and is a cap-and-trade system that puts a price on greenhouse gas emissions and is intended to encourage efficiency improvements, alternative fuels and investment in cleaner maritime technologies.

Unsafe Port Claims

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This publication considers the key aspects of the law on unsafe ports, with particular reference to the types of issues and problems that may arise in the current commercial and political environment.

Sanctions against Russia: EU’s 20th Sanctions Package – No Maritime Services Ban…Yet

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

On 23rd April, 2026, the European Union adopted its 20th package of sanctions against Russia. As explored in this article, the measures further tighten restrictions on maritime activity connected with Russian oil exports and expands the EU’s targeting of the Russian “shadow fleet”. However, it did not, as anticipated, introduce a full maritime services ban, though it has paved the way for one in the future.

UK sanctions against Transneft and further Russian sanctions developments

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 10:35:00 +0000

On 24th February, 2026, marking the fourth anniversary of the Russia/Ukraine conflict, the UK announced a significant new package of sanctions, including 300 new designations. These measures included the designation of the...

Court of Appeal decision in The Skyros and Agios Minas: A yardstick on the assessment of damages for late redelivery?

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:43:00 +0000

The Court of Appeal overturned the Commercial Court’s decision and found that where a charterer redelivers a ship late, the owner is entitled to the usual measure of damages for the overrun, namely the difference between the charter rate and the relevant market rate for that period, even where the owner’s contractual arrangements with third parties (MOAs in this case) mean that they would not have been able to take advantage of the market.

Shipbuilding: Commercial Court considers Refund Guarantees, Conditions and Innominate Terms

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Commercial Court has confirmed in a recent judgment that a shipyard’s obligation to provide refund guarantees by a specified time does not automatically amount to a condition.

Conflict - The Impact on Charterparties and Issues for Consideration

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In our publication, we discuss possible ways in which contractual parties can protect themselves against such risks in a maritime context.

US-Iran Conflict FAQs

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 10:55:00 +0000

As the US-Iran conflict escalates, the maritime sector faces heightened pressures, particularly in the Middle East’s essential waterways and ports. While the situation is very fluid, the following FAQs provide general guidance and highlight the type of contractual issues that might arise following the escalating conflict.

LNG Charters Common Issues

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Although charterparty disputes may be less common in the LNG trade than in other trades, when they do arise, they can be complicated and costly. In this publication, we take a look at three of the main areas where we have seen a trend for claims (underperformance, breakdowns and terminal compatibility) and offer guidance to Members in terms of preventing and handling such disputes.

Shipbuilding Contracts: The Value of UKDC Cover

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 12:16:00 +0000

Shipbuilding is a significant investment which requires significant support. UK Defence Club's experience in managing shipbuilding disputes and its cover in this area are unrivalled.