BLACK SEA INSTITUTE

OF MARITIME&TRADE LAW

    ABOUT

    Black Sea Institute of Maritime and Trade law is an independent non-government organization that supports development of Maritime and Trade Law in the Black Sea region for the benefit of Black Sea countries 

    OUR GOALS

    DEVELOPMENT

    of the legal culture of business communities in the Black Sea region for mutual prosperity and conducting of the fair business

    REPRESENTING

    the interests of members of the Institute in international projects aimed in developing a legal culture of doing business

    SUPPORT

    and holding events (online and offline) for the development of the legal culture of professionals in the shipping and international trade industries

    MEMBERS

    • FOUNDER, ARTHUR NITSEVYCH
      FOUNDER, ARTHUR NITSEVYCH
      Arthur is a partner at Interlegal law firm, supporting member at LMAA, IBA , The Nautical Institute of the United Kingdom, EMLO, SCMA, Member of the Nautical Institute of Ukraine. Chairman of the Maritime and Transport Law Committee of the Ukrainian Bar Association in Odessa Region
    • CHARTERED ARBITRATOR, RICHARD FAINT
      CHARTERED ARBITRATOR, RICHARD FAINT

      Richard is a partner at Charter Wise, an expert in solving all sort of problems related to Shipping & Trading. Can also provide in- house training for staff. As an individual Richard also sits as an Arbitrator for GAFTA, FOSFA (and other trades) arbitrations and Maritime disputes - including disputes under LMAA terms, in London and Paris.

    • FOUNDER, MYKOLA MELNYKOV
      FOUNDER, MYKOLA MELNYKOV
      Mykola is a partner at Interlegal law firm, member of The Nautical Institute of Ukraine, Ukrainian Bar Association in Odesa Region, supporting member at London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA). From 2016 Mykola is Ukrainian Maritime Arbitration Commission recommended arbitrator.
    • JEAN-PAUL DEZUTTER
      JEAN-PAUL DEZUTTER

      Former shipbroker and renowned expert in laytime and operations, managing global laytime and demurrage audits for various well-reputed industry names. With Demurrage Desk, Jean-Paul offers contract design and personalised solutions. With a focus on efficiency and optimisation, providing clarity and insight into complex shipping processes. ​

      As an independent and external demurrage auditor, Jean-Paul is a trusted advisor to shipping and trading companies, leveraging his expertise in laytime, demurrage, and shipping operations to ensure contractual compliance, mitigate financial risks, and optimise operational efficiency.​

      Jean-Paul holds certificates in ship chartering, ship finance, maritime disputes and arbitration, and laytime and demurrage. He is a CIArb accredited commercial mediator, frequently advising on commercial dispute resolution and holds various professional memberships.​

      Jean-Paul lectures and provides workshops on laytime, demurrage and ship operations at Cambridge Academy of Transport, BIMCO, IFCHOR-Galbraiths and other industry organisations and fora, as well as in-house training and one-on-one coaching.​ 

      Join us to gain practical insights from one of the industry’s most respected voices in laytime and demurrage. 

    • JEFFREY BLUM
      JEFFREY BLUM

      Member, The Baltic Exchange
      Maritime Lecturer and Maritime Arbitrator
      Maritime and Commodities Commercial Claims Consultant
      Supporting Member, London Maritime Arbitrators Association

      Jeffrey Blum has been involved in shipping and trading since 1972. He is the fourth generation of a shipping family, has been a member of the Baltic Exchange since 1976 and has worked with a Lloyd’s underwriter and as a shipbroker, charterer, ship owner, ship operator, gasoil futures broker and commodities trader in London and abroad. 

    • GEORGE LAMBROU
      GEORGE LAMBROU

      Partner at Keystone Law. George is regularly engaged in international arbitrations as counsel, co-arbitrator and sole arbitrator under the ICC, LCIA, LMAA, SCC and ICSID rules sitting in London, Athens, Geneva, Stockholm, Istanbul and Washington DC. He has experience in construction, energy, trade, software, securities, investment treaty and maritime disputes.

    • ANDREW RIGDEN GREEN
      ANDREW RIGDEN GREEN

      Andrew is a Partner in the Maritime and Dispute Resolution groups in Watson Farley & Williams

      Andrew’s experience spans corporate and commercial disputes, international arbitrationshipping and offshore construction. His practice includes FD&D, P&I, shareholder, corporate, trust and private wealth, joint venture and sale and purchase disputes across several industries including maritime, aviation, oil and gas and LNG. He is also experienced with energy transition matters and in particular maritime decarbonisation.

      His clients primarily include most of the IG P&I Clubs, shipowners, Chinese SOEs, Japanese trading houses and corporates in the oil and gas sector, Hong Kong and Singapore-based UHNWIs, Chinese, Taiwanese and Hong Kong privately owned companies as well as European and US companies operating in Asia. Andrew also works with environment focussed NGOs and governmental bodies on projects to decarbonise the maritime industry.

    • GUGLIELMO CAMERA
      GUGLIELMO CAMERA

      Partner at Camera Vernatti

    • ROSIE GONCARE
      ROSIE GONCARE

      Partner at Hill Dickinson

    • YAVOR VELCHEV
      YAVOR VELCHEV

      Founder at Shippossible Ltd., Bulgaria

    • MEHMET DOGU
      MEHMET DOGU

      Founder, Advocate at Dogu Interlegal

    • GENNADIY IVANOV
      GENNADIY IVANOV

      co-owner and director of BPG Shipping

    • ANDRII KLYMENKO
      ANDRII KLYMENKO

      Institute for Black Sea Strategic Studies, Head of the Monitoring Group on the Situation in the Black Sea Region, Freedom of Navigation and International Sanctions against Russia, co-founder and editor-in-chief of BlacksSeaNews.net

    • VIKTOR BERESTENKO
      VIKTOR BERESTENKO

      President of the The Association of International Freight Forwarders of Ukraine

    • OLEKSII REMESLO
      OLEKSII REMESLO

      Oleksii is a partner at Interlegal law firm, member of The Ukrainian Bar Association in Odesa Region

    • YURIY DIMCHOGLO
      YURIY DIMCHOGLO

      founder of River Port and Ferry Complex Orlivka

    • KARYNA GOROVAYA
      KARYNA GOROVAYA

      Partner at Interlegal, Arbitrator at the ICAC at the Ukrainian CCI

    • ALYONA REMENYAK
      ALYONA REMENYAK

      Associate Attorney, Director of Interlegal Cyprus office

    • TARAS DRAGAN
      TARAS DRAGAN

      Associate attorney, advocate at Interlegal law firm

    • IRINA MALTSEVA
      IRINA MALTSEVA

      Irina is an associate attorney at Interlegal law firm

    • VALERIA FETYSENKO
      VALERIA FETYSENKO

      Senior associate, Head of Yachting Department at Interlegal

    PUBLICATIONS

    Commodities in Focus Weekly – Does an instruction to issue delivery orders constitute conversion?

    In the case of Valency International Pte Ltd v JSW International Tradecorp Pte Ltd and others and another appeal [2026] SGCA 1, the Singapore Court of Appeal held that instructions to issue delivery orders, without more, did not constitute conversion; the instructions had to be acted upon before any liability could attach.  BACKGROUND Valency International Pte Ltd (“Valency”), the claimant in the case, financed the purchase of […]

    Pollution fines and Traffic regulations in Turkiye for 2026

    Updates for vessels calling into Turkiye in 2026. 7 January 2026 Correspondent Ulgener brings us this update on the new rates for pollution fines. Read the online circular here. 2 December 2025 Following the increase in pollution fines in Turkiye for 2026, Correspondent Omur Marine brings us this update on new minimum limits for coastal facility pollution insurance. On the date of 25.11.2025, a Communiqué amending […]

    Unity Ship Group S.A. v Euroins Insurance JSC (The “Happy Aras”)

    Summary The “Happy Aras” (the “Vessel”) was on a laden voyage from Reni, Ukraine to Mersin, Turkey when she grounded off Turkey. The Vessel was seriously damaged, and Owners declared general average.  Cargo Insurers, who had issued general average security on Cargo Interests’ behalf, refused to pay a USD1.2m general average contribution to Owners, alleging that  the grounding was caused by Owners’ actionable fault in […]

    CONTACT DETAILS

    MAILING ADDRESS

    Odesa, 65014, Ukraine, 1A, Hretska St

    EMAIL ADDRESS

    PHONE NUMBER

    Subscribe error, please review your email address.

    Close

    You are now subscribed, thank you!

    Close

    There was a problem with your submission. Please check the field(s) with red label below.

    Close

    Your message has been sent. We will get back to you soon!

    Close