Maritime Sector — Certified Neutral Dispute Resolution for Shipping & Maritime

Maritime Bench

of 10 global spots remaining

4 taken · 6 open worldwide

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⚓Sector Bench · Maritime & Shipping

Maritime

& Shipping

disputes, resolved.

Specialist certified neutrals for charter party, cargo, laytime, demurrage, P&I, collision, and shipbuilding disputes — from BIMCO forms to Hague-Visby rules.

Appoint a Maritime Neutral → Start with INE™ Evaluation

C/P

Charter Party

P&I

Protection & Indemnity

BIMCO

Standard Forms

48h

Appointment

The Maritime Bench

Where disputes cross

every border.

Maritime is one of the oldest and most globally interconnected dispute sectors. Charter party disputes, cargo claims, collision liability, shipbuilding contracts, and marine insurance disputes require neutrals with genuine maritime knowledge — not generalists who have read shipping cases.

TheNeutrals.ORG™ certifies maritime lawyers, former master mariners, P&I club correspondents, and marine surveyors who understand BIMCO standard forms, Hague-Visby Rules, York-Antwerp Rules, and salvage conventions from practice.

Appoint a Neutral → Browse all →

Key StandardsBIMCO, Hague-Visby, York-Antwerp, LMAA

Dispute TypesLaytime, demurrage, cargo, off-hire, collision

InstrumentsExpert Determination, INE™, Mediation

Bench LimitMax 10 per country · 6 spots left

Common Dispute Types

What our maritime

neutrals handle.

Laytime & Demurrage

Disputed laytime calculations, NOR validity, detention claims under voyage charter parties.

GenconNOR

Charter Party & Off-Hire

Off-hire claims, hire deductions, redelivery disputes under NYPE and BALTIME charters.

NYPEBALTIME

Cargo Claims & Damage

Cargo shortage, contamination, damage claims under bills of lading — Hague-Visby Rules.

Hague-VisbyBill of Lading

Collision, Salvage & GA

Collision liability, LOF salvage, general average contribution disputes, SCOPIC claims.

LOFYork-Antwerp

Shipbuilding & Repair

SAJ form disputes, delivery delays, specification defects, refund guarantee calls.

SAJNewbuilding

Marine Insurance & P&I

Hull & machinery claims, P&I coverage disputes, war risks, pollution liability.

MIA 1906P&I

Resolution Instruments

Fast resolution for

time-critical maritime disputes.

Primary · Binding Technical

Expert Determination

The most effective mechanism for laytime, NOR validity, off-hire, and cargo damage disputes. A marine surveyor or shipping lawyer delivers a binding ruling in weeks.

From $2,000 · 2–5 weeks
Maritime lawyers & marine surveyors on bench
Binding under contract · enforceable

Expert Determination →

Primary · Fast Intelligence

INE™ Evaluation

Clarity Snapshot delivers independent expert intelligence in 4–5 days — before a cargo claim becomes a contested arbitration.

Snapshot™ from $200 · 4–5 days
DeepView™ from $800 · 7–12 days
P&I club correspondents on panel

INE™ Evaluation →

Resolution · Commercial

Maritime Mediation

Where the commercial relationship between shipowner and charterer must survive the dispute — mediation with a neutral who understands shipping dynamics.

From $800 · 1–2 day sessions
Former ship managers & P&I officials
Singapore Convention enforcement

Mediation →

Prevention · Embedded

Standing Neutral

For long-term charter arrangements and major shipbuilding projects — a Standing Neutral embedded at contract execution prevents disputes before they become claims.

Long-term time charters
Newbuilding supervision
On-call throughout contract period

Standing Neutral →

The Maritime Bench

The practitioners

already certified.

4 certified. 6 open. Appointed in 48 hours. 10 spots globally.

Browse All Maritime Neutrals →

Why Join This Bench

Six reasons the best

maritime practitioners are here.

⚓

Appointments at Shipping Speed

Maritime disputes are time-critical. The bench is designed for maritime speed — appointments confirmed in 48 hours.

🌍

Global Coverage

Recognised across LMAA, SCMA, BIMCO, P&I clubs, and marine insurance markets in every major shipping centre.

🔒

Exclusivity That Reflects the Market

Maximum 10 certified neutrals per sector globally. The maritime bench is the most sought-after of the 12 benches.

🛡

P&I Club Recognition

P&I clubs and hull underwriters use the bench for Expert Determination and INE™ evaluation requests.

📋

BIMCO-Relevant CPD

Quarterly CPD on BIMCO form updates, IMO changes, and emerging maritime law from practising neutrals.

🌐

Maritime Chapter — Connect

Monthly maritime bench roundtables and co-referral with practitioners across Singapore, London, Hamburg, Piraeus.

Eligibility

Who qualifies for

the Maritime Bench.

Required — must meet all

8+ years in maritime law, shipping, marine insurance, or port management

Knowledge of BIMCO forms, Hague-Visby, York-Antwerp, or SAJ

Experience as neutral, expert witness, marine surveyor, or maritime adviser

Preferred — strengthens application

Former master mariner, chief engineer, or P&I correspondent

LMAA Fellow, SCMA accreditation or equivalent

Multi-jurisdictional experience — London, Singapore, Hamburg, Piraeus

Spots remaining — globally

Applications reviewed in 5–7 days. Free to apply.

FAQs

Everything you need

to know before applying.

Do I need to be a maritime lawyer to apply?

No. The Maritime Bench includes master mariners, chief engineers, marine surveyors, P&I club correspondents, and ship managers. Technical maritime credibility is the core requirement.

What types of appointments will I receive?

Appointments match your expertise — master mariners receive collision and cargo cases, laytime specialists receive demurrage disputes, shipbuilding practitioners receive SAJ form disputes.

Do I pay anything to apply?

No. Application is completely free. The annual certification fee ($395–$795) applies only after approval.

Can I join if I'm still employed at a shipping company?

Yes. Many bench members maintain concurrent roles at P&I clubs, shipping companies, and classification societies. Each appointment is COI-checked individually.

All 12 Sectoral Benches

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Six spots left.

The Maritime Bench is open.

Applications take 15 minutes and are reviewed in 5–7 days. No payment required. Fee applies only after approval. The bench closes at 10.

Apply for Certification — Free Appoint a Maritime Neutral

World Neutrals Summit 2026

Barcelona.
August 2026.

The global neutral profession's defining annual gathering.

$985 Neutral Pass $1595 Speaker Pass

Venue

Hyatt Regency Barcelona Tower

Gran Via 144, 08907
L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona

View hotel → Map →

Priority registration

spots remaining

✅ Early registration: 50 completed

Secure your spot → Full programme