The Law of Tug and Tow and Offshore Contracts, 5th Edition

Simon Rainey KC

ISBN: 9781041089025

Published: May 2026

Format: Hardcover

Language: English

Publisher: Informa Law from Routledge

Description

The Law of Tug and Tow and Offshore Contracts is the established, only modern treatment of the law of towage and offshore vessel services, written by Simon Rainey KC, one of the leading shipping practitioners in the field. It combines a thoroughly researched account of the general law with detailed clause-by-clause commentary on all the major standard contracts used across the international offshore, towage and heavylift sectors, and is a core reference for the fifth edition Lloyd's Shipping Law Library.

Key Features

• Clause-by-clause coverage of the BIMCO Towcon, Towhire, Supplytime and Heavylift forms, the full suite of BIMCO Wreck Removal forms, the BIMCO Bargehire form, and the ISU Salvcon and Salvhire forms in their latest versions
• Compares older and current versions of each standard form, since earlier editions remain widely used
• Fully updated for the new BIMCO Towcon/Towhire 2021 contracts, with detailed analysis of the changes since the forms were last revised in 2008
• Covers the revised UK Standard Conditions for Towage (end of 2024), the 2021 Bargehire revisions and the 2024 Wreckstage form
• Considers the Supplytime 2017 "Special Task Annexes" and the new 2021 ASVtime form for accommodation support vessels

In practice, the fifth edition is used to negotiate and draft towage, offshore and heavylift contracts under the current BIMCO and ISU forms, to compare obligations across superseded and current editions of the same standard form when disputes involve older fixtures, and to advise on towage, salvage and general average issues arising from tug-and-tow and offshore operations.

Coverage

The general law of towage and the implied obligations of tug and tow; the standard form contracts (UK Standard Conditions for Towage, BIMCO Towcon/Towhire 2021, Supplytime 2017/Windtime/ASVtime, Bargehire 2021, Heavycon/Heavyliftvoy/Projectcon); the ISU Salvcon/Salvhire and BIMCO/ISU wreck removal forms; towage and salvage; collisions involving tug and tow; limitation of liability; general average; and Admiralty jurisdiction. Includes a Foreword to the Fifth Edition by Sir Nigel Teare.

About the Author

Simon Rainey KC is a barrister at Quadrant Chambers, London's leading shipping set, and is widely regarded as the foremost shipping and international trade KC at the English Bar. He has been ranked in Chambers & Partners' "Star Individual" category for Shipping and Commodities since 2015, was named Shipping Silk of the Year in 2017 and 2022, and sits as a Deputy High Court Judge in the Commercial Court. He is also an experienced arbitrator under the LCIA, ICC and LMAA rules.

Table of Contents

Foreword to the Fifth Edition by Sir Nigel Teare | Preface to the Fifth Edition | Prefatory Note from BIMCO to the Fifth Edition | Tables of Cases, Legislation, Statutory Instruments, International Conventions and Forms

1. The Contract of Towage
2. The Implied Obligations of Tug and Tow
3. Standard Form Contracts (i): The UK Standard Conditions for Towage and Other Services
4. Standard Form Contracts (ii): The BIMCO Forms "Towcon 2021" and "Towhire 2021"
5. Standard Form Contracts (iii): The BIMCO "Supplytime 2017" Form (with its predecessor "Supplytime 2005", the "Windtime" and "ASVtime" variants)
6. Standard Form Contracts (iv): The BIMCO "Bargehire 2021" Form
7. Standard Form Contracts (v): The BIMCO "Heavycon 2007", "Heavyliftvoy" and "Projectcon" Forms
8. Towage and Salvage
9. The ISU Standard Form Contracts for the Provision of Tugs to Salvors: "Salvcon 2005" and "Salvhire 2005"
10. The BIMCO/ISU Standard Form Contracts for Wreck Removal and Marine Services: "Wreckhire 2010", "Wreckstage 2024" and "Wreckfixed 2010"
11. Collisions Involving Tug and Tow
12. Towage and Limitation of Liability
13. Tug and Tow and General Average
14. Admiralty Jurisdiction
Appendices

Why buy this book?

Now in its fifth edition, The Law of Tug and Tow and Offshore Contracts remains the only modern, comprehensive treatment of towage and offshore vessel services law, and the only work offering clause-by-clause commentary across the full range of BIMCO and ISU standard forms in this sector. For any legal practitioner dealing with towage, salvage, offshore or heavylift contracts, it is an essential and invaluable addition to the library.

Keywords

Law of towage, tug and tow, offshore contracts, BIMCO Towcon, BIMCO Towhire, Supplytime, Bargehire, Heavycon, ISU Salvcon, ISU Salvhire, wreck removal, admiralty jurisdiction

Target Audience

Shipping and maritime lawyers, offshore and towage contract negotiators, salvors and salvage lawyers, in-house counsel for towage and offshore companies, law libraries

Genre

Maritime Law, Shipping, Contract Law

Q&A

Q: What standard form contracts does this book cover?
A: It provides clause-by-clause commentary on the BIMCO Towcon, Towhire, Supplytime, Bargehire and Heavylift forms, the BIMCO/ISU wreck removal forms, and the ISU Salvcon and Salvhire forms.

Q: Is the fifth edition updated for the 2021 BIMCO Towcon/Towhire forms?
A: Yes, it includes a detailed analysis of the changes to the Towcon/Towhire forms since they were last revised in 2008, as well as the 2024 UK Standard Conditions for Towage.

Q: Does the book cover salvage and wreck removal contracts?
A: Yes, it covers the ISU Salvcon and Salvhire forms and the BIMCO/ISU Wreckhire, Wreckstage and Wreckfixed forms for wreck removal and marine services.

Q: Who is this book written for?
A: It is written for legal practitioners advising on towage, offshore, salvage and heavylift contracts, and for shipping and offshore companies negotiating these agreements.

Q: Where can I buy The Law of Tug and Tow and Offshore Contracts, 5th Edition?
A: It is available from CLNZ Books with worldwide shipping included.

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