Ed Watt

Expertise

Ed is Head of the Shipping team and is a leading shipping lawyer, specialising in ship sale and purchase, offshore commercial contracts and ship registration.

Ed has acted in the sale or purchase and registration of more than 300 vessels.  With an international practice acting for ship owners, builders and banks, Ed has led negotiations and completions in over 25 countries and is a recognised expert in dual registration of ships in the Caspian Sea.  He also routinely advises owners and charterers in relation to time and voyage charterparties and bareboat charter structures.

Ed's recent experience includes:

• advising the UK Government in relation to a £300 million strategic newbuilding programme for coastal patrol vessels
• advising Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited in the £210 million purchase of four new build ro-pax ferries from a shipyard in Turkey
• advising a Bermuda corporation in connection with a $80 million fleet renewal project for offshore support vessels built at shipyards in China
• supporting investor due diligence into marine assets including a cruise line and fleets of ferries, oil tankers and container ships
• advising banks in relation to the restructurings, repossession, re-registration and onwards sale of distressed offshore fleets