Practice Areas
Three Services, Each with
a Defined Scope
Charterparty and bill of lading disputes. Vessel mortgage and registration. Maritime casualty initial inquiry. Each structured to produce a clear output from the outset.
Our Approach
How Each Engagement Begins
Each service offered by Sayam Group begins with a defined scope and a stated fee. This is not because maritime matters are simple — they often are not — but because clients are better placed to make decisions when they understand what an initial engagement will produce before committing to it.
The initial fee covers a specific piece of work: either a merits assessment and written position paper for charterparty disputes, the full registration or mortgage documentation set for vessel matters, or a structured casualty inquiry report. What happens after that is discussed when the initial work is complete and the picture is clearer.
In practice, this means that clients come to the first engagement with a clear expectation and leave it with a concrete output. There is no open-ended preliminary phase. There is no discovery that the initial consultation was merely the beginning of a much larger billing exercise.
For most clients — whether a shipowner dealing with a demurrage dispute, a yacht owner completing a registration, or a commercial operator managing an incident report — this approach reduces the uncertainty that makes maritime legal advice difficult to access at the right time.
Initial Contact
Brief description of matter sent by email or phone
Scope Confirmation
We confirm the applicable service, fee, and what the engagement will produce
Document Review
Relevant charterparty, registration, or incident documentation is reviewed
Deliverable
Written assessment or completed documentation set provided
Service 01
Charterparty & Bill of Lading Disputes
Considered representation in disputes arising under time charters, voyage charters, and bills of lading — including freight, demurrage, off-hire, and cargo claim matters. We work with shipowners, charterers, and cargo interests in Thailand, often in coordination with London or Singapore arbitration counsel. Our approach favours a clear assessment of the merits early, so that resources are committed where they are likely to do good.
- Time charter and voyage charter dispute analysis
- Demurrage and laytime calculation review
- Off-hire claim assessment under standard forms
- Cargo damage and shortage claims under bills of lading
- Coordination with LMAA and SIAC arbitration counsel
Process Steps
- 1. Review charterparty, bills of lading, and relevant correspondence
- 2. Map facts to contractual provisions clause by clause
- 3. Prepare written position assessment
- 4. Advise on response strategy and arbitration considerations
Initial Engagement
฿33,500
Service 02
Vessel Mortgage & Registration Advisory
Preparation of vessel mortgage documentation, registration filings, and discharge documents under the Thai Vessel Act. We coordinate with the Marine Department for the practical steps of registration and discharge, advise on the implications of flagging or re-flagging, and prepare the supporting documentation for financing parties. Suited to small commercial fleets and yacht owners alike.
- Thai Vessel Act registration and filing documents
- Mortgage and discharge documentation preparation
- Marine Department liaison and administrative coordination
- Flagging and re-flagging implications advisory
- Financing party documentation support
Process Steps
- 1. Confirm vessel details, ownership structure, and financing arrangement
- 2. Prepare Marine Department registration or mortgage documentation
- 3. Coordinate filing and administrative steps with the Marine Department
- 4. Confirm registration or discharge completion
Initial Engagement
฿18,500
Service 03
Maritime Casualty Initial Inquiry
A short initial inquiry following a maritime incident — collision, grounding, fire, or pollution event — including the documentation that should be gathered quickly, the authorities likely to be involved, and the protective steps available before liability is later contested. The intent is to help vessel owners and operators preserve their position calmly while a fuller engagement is being considered.
- Immediate documentation checklist for the incident type
- Identification of likely regulatory authorities
- Reporting obligations and notification guidance
- Position preservation steps available at early stage
- Assessment of whether fuller engagement is warranted
Process Steps
- 1. Initial call or email to understand the incident and timeline
- 2. Identify critical documentation and evidence to preserve
- 3. Review reporting obligations to Thai and flag state authorities
- 4. Deliver written inquiry report with recommended immediate steps
Initial Engagement
฿4,500
Choosing the Right Service
Which Service Applies to Your Situation?
| Your Situation | Charterparty & B/L Dispute | Vessel Mortgage & Registration | Casualty Inquiry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freight or demurrage dispute | — | — | |
| Off-hire or cargo damage claim | — | — | |
| Registering a vessel in Thailand | — | — | |
| Taking or discharging a vessel mortgage | — | — | |
| Collision or grounding in the past 72 hours | — | — | |
| Pollution incident or fire aboard | — | — | |
| Flagging or re-flagging advice | — | — |
Not certain which applies to your situation? Send a brief description and we will advise on the appropriate starting point.
Standards
Professional Protocols Across All Services
Confidentiality
All matters are handled under professional confidentiality. Documentation is stored securely and not disclosed outside the engagement without instruction.
Thai Bar Compliance
All legal advisory is conducted by or under the supervision of Thai Bar Association licensed advocates, in compliance with professional conduct requirements.
Written Scope
Each engagement is confirmed in writing with a description of scope and fee before work begins. Scope is not expanded without separate written agreement.
Timely Delivery
Deliverable timelines are agreed at the start of each engagement. For casualty inquiries, the initial report is targeted for delivery within 48 hours of instruction.
International Coordination
Where external counsel is required in London, Singapore, or elsewhere, coordination is handled by Sayam Group so the client maintains one advisory relationship.
Bilingual Documentation
Documentation and correspondence prepared in Thai and English as required, without reliance on third-party translation for standard maritime terms and regulatory language.
Pricing
Initial Engagement Fees
All fees are for the defined initial engagement. Subsequent work is scoped and priced separately once the initial assessment is complete.
Casualty Inquiry
฿4,500
Initial engagement
- Incident documentation checklist
- Authority notification guidance
- Position preservation steps
- Written inquiry report
Vessel Registration & Mortgage
฿18,500
Initial engagement
- Full registration documentation
- Mortgage / discharge documents
- Marine Department coordination
- Flagging advisory
Charterparty & B/L Dispute
฿33,500
Initial engagement
- Charterparty and B/L review
- Written merits assessment
- Arbitration considerations
- Strategy recommendations
Not certain which service fits your matter?
Send a brief outline of the situation and we will advise on the appropriate starting point — with no obligation to proceed further.
Get in Touch