Andre is a partner in the Shipping, Marine Insurance and Transport Practice at Webber Wentzel.
He has broad experience in the field of maritime law, dealing with all aspects of admiralty jurisdiction litigation, including arrests in rem, attachments, security arrests, judicial sales, claims against maritime funds, courts of marine enquiry and access orders. Andre handles various maritime claims, including marine insurance claims, shipping casualties, wreck and salvage claims, necessaries claims, claims in relation to the carriage of goods by land and sea, charter party disputes and general maritime litigation.
Andre also has experience in commercial shipping work, including the purchase and sale of ships, the registration of mortgages over vessels and the drafting of agreements relating to the co-ownership, management, operation and chartering of vessels.
He has developed specialised expertise working for clients in the South African fishing industry, advising in relation to all aspects of fisheries law and related commercial operations. Andre has been extensively involved in the long term commercial fishing rights allocation process, and has represented clients in various judicial reviews and other litigation relating to fishing rights.
Areas of expertise
Admiralty jurisdiction litigation
Marine insurance and shipping casualty work
General maritime and commercial litigation
Fisheries law and practice
Maritime and marine commercial work
Top matters
Providing advice to a major mining house in respect of its international trade and transport risk management including redrafting contracts for the sale of commodities and shipping terms and conditions.
Acting for cargo interests in respect of the mv Harkripa under arrest at Richards Bay.
Acting for the mortgagee bank of the mv Daewoo Frontier in relation to the arrest of the vessel at Durban and her subsequent judicial sale. Attending to the proof of claims against the Fund established by the proceeds of the judicial sale and the objection to claims and rankings asserted by various third claimants against the Fund.
Acting for the owners and underwriters of the cargo of rice lately laden on board the mv Pine Trader in relation to a casualty and subsequent salvage operation off the Cape South Coast in May/June 2009. Advising in relation to the entry of the tug and tow into a place of refuge and the transhippment of the cargo. Obtaining detailed evidence regarding the operation of the vessel and the cause of the casualty for use in foreign recovery proceedings.
Acting for various necessaries claimants in relation to the proof of claims against the fund comprising the proceeds of the judicial sale of the mv Vasi, being part of the foreclosed fleet of Ocean Tankers Holdings Public Company Limited.
Acting for the owners and hull underwriters of the Beatrice Marine in a claim against a ship repairer for damages suffered as a result of defective performance of a ship repair contract.
Acting for the bunker supplier to the mv Global Patriot in relation to the arrest of the vessel at Durban and her subsequent judicial sale. Attending to the proof of claims against the Fund established by the proceeds of the judicial sale and the successful objection to claims and rankings asserted by various third claimants against the Fund.
Acting for the hull underwriters of the diamond mining vessel Shelf Explorer in relation to claims following her sinking off the coast of Namibia.
Acting for the owner and hull underwriter of the motor fishing vessel Harvest Tamara in claims following her sinking after a collision with the vessel Anangel Splendour off the South African coast.
Acting for the owner of the motor fishing vessel Lindsay in a claim against hull underwriters following a refusal to pay a claim following the loss of the vessel as a result of a collision with the motor vessel Ouro do Brasil.
Acted for the owners of the Roxanna Bank in relation to a salvage claim brought by Swire Pacific Limited in the High Court of South Africa following a breakdown incident that threatened the under sea oil pipeline in Mossel Bay, South Africa.
Acted for the owners of the Argun in relation to the ownership of the former Russian naval motor tanker, and in relation to various creditor claims. The matter resulted in judgments of the Supreme Court of Appeal which have clarified the law regarding preservation expenses for ships under arrest.
Accolades
Listed as highly recommended by Legal 500 2010 - 2012 (Shipping). Andre is described as 'excellent’, providing ‘proactive assistance’ with ‘attention to detail', 'hard working' and 'efficient'..
Listed by Legal Experts EMEA 2012 - 2013 as an expert in his field.
