News date: 27 January 2026
The team of Odesa office of Ilyashev & Partners Law Firm ensured the arrest of a vessel in the waters of Reni Sea Port to secure the maritime claim of a Ukrainian manufacturer of coated rolled steel in a dispute arising from the international sea transportation of metal products.
The maritime claim of the Ukrainian manufacturer, a client of Ilyashev & Partners, arose under a sea carriage contract for steel transported on board a Panamanian-flagged vessel from Turkey to Ukraine. The cargo, with a total weight of over 3,600 metric tons, was shipped under a charter party bill of lading.
Due to delays in delivery and damage to part of the cargo, the Ukrainian manufacturer suffered significant financial losses and was forced to pay penalties and liquidated damages to counterparties for late delivery, as well as incur additional financing costs. The total amount of the maritime claim exceeded USD 1.8 million.
During the review of the case circumstances, Ilyashev & Partners’ attorneys established that the vessel was in an effectively unseaworthy condition. During port inspections in Turkey, numerous technical violations were identified, which resulted in the detention of the vessel and a substantial deviation from the agreed delivery schedule.
To secure the maritime claim, the team of Odesa office of Ilyashev & Partners managed to promptly prepare an application for the arrest of the vessel. The Commercial Court of Odesa Region upheld the legal position of Ilyashev & Partners and imposed an arrest on the vessel, prohibiting its departure from the waters of Reni Sea Port. The court confirmed the existence of a maritime claim under the 1952 Convention for the Arrest of Sea-Going Ships, the Merchant Shipping Code of Ukraine, and the provisions of commercial procedural law.
After the arrest was imposed, the shipowner applied to the court to lift the security measures, citing allegedly improper cargo packaging, absence of damage during unloading, and provisions of the Hague-Visby Rules limiting the shipowner’s liability.
However, the Odesa office team of Ilyashev & Partners successfully proved in court the lawfulness of the security measures applied and the absence of grounds to lift the vessel’s arrest at the request of the shipowner.
“This case is an example of comprehensive maritime dispute work, combining in-depth analysis of international maritime law, prompt procedural actions, and effective use of vessel arrest tools to protect cargo owners’ interests,” noted Counsel, Head of Odesa Office of Ilyashev & Partners Sergey Nedelko. “The court decisions prevent the vessel’s departure from the port until the merits of the dispute are resolved and create a reliable procedural basis for further recovery of losses under the maritime claim filed.”
The project was handled by Sergey Nedelko and Nataliia Kyreieva, Attorney at Law at Ilyashev & Partners.