Refinery & Petrochemical Losses
Hill Rivkins has in-depth experience in handling recovery and subrogation actions arising from explosions, fires, and other casualties incurred at oil and petrochemical manufacturing, refining, and storage facilities, as well as along pipelines. We also routinely handle disputes relating to loss, damage and destruction of bulk liquid commodities.
Losses occur at various stages in the storage and transportation cycle, and the firm is positioned to assist owners and insurers in pursuing responsible parties. We have successfully recovered losses against ships, terminal operators and others in connection with cargo contamination and shortage losses in the tank farm, at the manifold and shipboard. We also have longstanding experience in land-based and shipboard losses arising from fires and explosions.
We have defended product owners in contamination and damage suits by terminal operators, refineries and ship-owners. We have also represented clients in connection with offshore platform losses and losses arising in connection with semi-submersible drilling rigs. Our attorneys have technical expertise and work closely with recognized experts to ensure that responsible parties are held accountable for losses.
Representative matters include:
- Assisting in suit against terminal operator and vessel for cross contamination of cargo during loading operations
- Assisting owner in suit against terminal operator for contamination of chemical product where another parcel was pumped into same tank
- Representing insurers and re-insurers in connection with losses arising from the explosion and sinking of an offshore drilling platform in the South Atlantic
- Defending refinery in suit for cancellation of purchase contract for late delivery and where product was contaminated
- Assisting consignee in suit against vessel owner for explosion and fire which caused partial damage to cargo and resulted in late delivery of parcel
- Defending shipper in arbitration against vessel owner where vessel owner claimed demurrage where delays arose in connection with dirty tanks from prior cargo
- Defending shipper in arbitration against vessel owner for demurrage where delays arose from insufficient pumping capacity
- Prosecuting claim against tank terminal and ship operator for contamination of petrochemicals.