Toplis and Harding (Marine) Ltd

華 証 行 ( 海 事 ) 有 限 公 司

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Range of our Services


Survey Agency
We have the human resources to undertake the following surveys: -
Cargo Survey – General Merchandize, Frozen Foods, Vegetable Oils, Machines, Raw Materials,
Hull and Machinery Survey
Pre-shipment / Pre-insurance Survey
General Average Survey
Other Investigation – Total Loss of Ships
Non-marine – Property Losses
Value-added Services – Loss Minimization, Salvage Auction, Risk Improvement Advice, Recovery Advice

Settling Agency
Arranging survey, minimization of loss, protecting recovery rights and evidence, conducting salvage sales, collecting documents necessary for settling and recoveries, adjusting claims, advising on policy liability, arranging settlement, declining liability on Insurers’ behalf.

Recovery Agency
We have a good team in place to handle all aspects of cargo claims recoveries for insurers and uninsured interests in pursuing recovery claims against carriers for loss of or damage to cargo whilst in transit. We have a sound combination of legal and technical expertise to offer value added service to our clients in the sense that all claims are being reviewed and pursued with diligence. Where possible, we will try best to obtain security and enter into substantive negotiation without having to resort to expensive legal expenses to obtain the necessary security. Our in-depth understanding of ship operations and charter party business, will enable us to deal with standard defences raised by shipping companies ie perils of the sea, insufficient packing, pre-shipment damage etc, as well as raising issues with cargo surveyors whose findings may appear ambiguous or in doubt.

Our work is carried out on ‘ No Cure No Pay’ basis. Our fees are inclusive of incidental disbursements but where specific disbursements are concerned (legal fees and search fees for example), prior approval would be sought from the insurers.

Arbitration & Mediation
Alternative Dispute Resolution is an area which is gaining popularity in the resolution of commercial disputes in many jurisdictions as against relying on the local judicial systems which may have yet to gain acceptance and trust by foreign parties. We are able to offer qualified and experienced arbitral and mediation services to resolve cross claims between insurers; between insurers and the assureds; between different contractual parties in international transactions and between insurers and third parties interests.

Capt Lee is a qualified chartered arbitrator and accreditated mediator. He is well placed to adjudicate insurance related disputes or commercial transaction disputes. Subject to the agreement of the parties, he can preside either as a sole arbitrator or as one of the arbitrators in a two men or three men tribunal. Arbitral awards issued in Hongkong or China are binding on the parties and enforceable in more than 120 jurisdictions.

Capt Lee had also acted successfully as a mediator in several transnational claims involving disputants in Scandinavia, China, Vietnam and Singapore. Mediation is a much cheaper option than arbitration and its attraction lies in the fact that the goodwill between the disputing parties is preserved.

Technical & Legal Consultancy
Advice on packaging and stowage.
Advice on policy liability.
Legal Advice on the viability of the case and jurisdictional procedures in China, Japan, Korea, USA and other better known common-law countries.