Stuart Francis
Admiralty Manager
Piraeus
T +30 210 455 1000
stuartfrancis@incegd.com
Department Maritime, Yachts and superyachts Languages English
Stuart specialises in advising clients on high-profile marine casualties. He began his career at sea where he spent a total of 20 years, six of which as a Master, on all types of deep-sea vessels. He came ashore in 1998 and since then has added to his significant experience and in-depth knowledge of the technical and operational aspects of ships as an Admiralty Manager. He is a member of the firm’s International Emergency Response Team and Leading Investigator for the firm’s yacht clients.
Stuart is currently the only Master Mariner permanently based at an English law firm in Piraeus. He stands out for his vast experience in admiralty matters, with a focus on emergency response and crisis management. He travels extensively to attend collisions, groundings, fires, explosions and salvage operations all over the world and has represented owners and their insurers in numerous high-profile marine casualties.
His experience also includes dealing with total losses, pollution incidents, cargo damage, unsafe port claims and charterparty disputes. His broad expertise extends to megayacht casualties, particularly in the Mediterranean region.
Stuart was named “Maritime Crisis Consultant of the Year in Greece” at the ACQ5 Law Awards 2020.
Quote
"Stuart has built an extensive network within the shipping industry worldwide which enables him to quickly and effectively manage high-risk situations and resolve resulting disputes. He has a reputation for achieving prompt and favourable settlements for his clients."
Professional Associations & Memberships
- Member of the Nautical Institute
My matter highlights
- Investigating a multi-ship collision in the Suez Canal; advising shipowners, managers and insurers on collision liability, quantum, cargo transhipment and issues under the time charterparty.
- Advising shipowners and insurers following the allision of a bulk carrier with a historic waterfront mansion in the Bosphorus Straits including liability, limitation of liability, GA and issues under the time charterparty.
- Investigating a collision off Corsica that caused significant pollution along the French coast; advising shipowners, managers and insurers in relation to collision liability, limitation of liability and pollution claims.
- Investigating the flooding, sinking and subsequent total loss of a live fish carrier off Chile; advising shipowners on issues of liability.
- Investigating a collision between a 12,000 TEU container vessel and the jetty at Jebel Ali that caused the collapse of a container gantry crane; advising shipowners and insurers on issues of liability
- Investigating the capsize and subsequent total loss of a fuel oil tanker off Piraeus that resulted in significant heavy oil pollution along the Athens Riviera; advising insurers in relation to liability and coverage issues.
- Investigating the total loss of a 36 metre superyacht which was destroyed by fire in an Athens marina, a case that reached the Commercial Court; advising insurers on liability aspects.
- Investigating a collision between a product tanker and a cruise liner in the Dardanelles; advising shipowners and insurers on issues of liability and salvage including recovery of collision damage and defence of cargo actions.
- Investigating damage allegedly caused by a ship’s anchor to one of the world’s major subsea telecommunications cables off India that affected millions of internet users; advising shipowners and insurers on liability and quantum issues.
- Investigating a collision between two LNG vessels off Fujairah; advising owners and insurers in relation to collision liability and recovery of ship damages.
My recent publications
Podcasts / 'Collisions: why are they still happening?' webinar series
01-07-2020 / Maritime
Webinar series, 'Collisions: why are they still happening?', hosted by the Ince Admiralty team. The series of four webinars explore the COLREGS and why collisions are still happening, and considers calls for changes to the COLREGS to accommodate autonomous ships. These webinars use a combination of case studies, Q&A and technical insight.
