Shipping companies operate through international contracts, vessels and service providers, making disputes particularly sensitive to jurisdiction and timing. An unpaid invoice that appears straightforward commercially can become more complicated when the vessel continues trading internationally.
South America Maritime Claims coordinates shipping-related legal matters in Colombia with local maritime legal professionals.
Shipping Claims in Colombia
A shipping lawyer may be involved in disputes concerning:
Vessel supplies
Ship repairs
Marine equipment
Technical services
Port and agency expenses
Unpaid maritime invoices
Vessel-related contracts
Commercial disputes involving shipping companies
The first stage is to identify the parties and documentary evidence.
Ship Arrest and Vessel Claims
If a creditor wants to know whether a vessel can be arrested in Colombia, the claim must be assessed under the applicable legal framework.
The relevant issues may include the nature of the debt, the contractual relationship, ownership of the vessel, jurisdiction and available evidence.
This is why an IMO number and current vessel position should be provided at the beginning of an urgent case.
Colombian Maritime Authority
DIMAR exercises maritime authority through Capitanias de Puerto located in Colombia's maritime and river jurisdictions. Its regulatory framework includes the Reglamento Maritimo Colombiano, or REMAC, which consolidates current maritime regulations and related provisions.
For a creditor considering proceedings in Colombia, identifying the relevant maritime location and competent legal route is therefore an important part of the preliminary assessment.
Maritime Debt Recovery
Depending on the circumstances, the recovery process may include:
Document review
Identification of the responsible debtor
Formal demand
Settlement negotiations
Assessment of judicial proceedings
Consideration of vessel-related security
Not every debt will justify the same approach.
International Shipping Legal Support
South America Maritime Claims coordinates the international side of the case and works with local Colombian maritime counsel when Colombian legal proceedings are required.
If your company has an unpaid shipping or maritime claim involving a vessel in Colombia, provide the vessel IMO number, invoice, contractual documents, delivery or service evidence and debtor information for an initial assessment.
