Lawyer Specialized in Marine Pollution and Maritime Court Representation

Marine pollution allegations and maritime regulatory infractions can carry severe consequences for shipowners and vessel operators—ranging from heavy fines and vessel detention to reputational damage and criminal prosecution. At Marty Legal, we provide decisive legal representation in all matters related to maritime pollution and offences under the jurisdiction of Maritime courts. With offices in Marseille, France’s historic maritime hub, we act swiftly and strategically to protect the interests of shipowners, shipmasters, and maritime operators facing enforcement actions. Our deep knowledge of international conventions (MARPOL, UNCLOS), EU regulations, and French maritime law enables us to offer sophisticated legal guidance and robust courtroom advocacy. Whether responding to coastal state prosecution for oil discharges, or defending against allegations of regulatory violations in port operations, our firm brings over two decades of specialized experience to bear in safeguarding your rights and minimizing exposure to sanctions.

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Marine Pollution Defence

Strategic legal defence for shipowners and captains facing pollution allegations, including degassing and bunker discharge, ensuring compliance with MARPOL and protection against severe sanctions.

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Admiralty Court Representation

Expert representation before maritime courts for offences like collisions, speed violations, and port breaches, securing your rights and minimizing legal and operational risks.

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Marty Legal | Admiralty Law | Maritime Law

Legal Defence in Cases of Marine Pollution

Marine pollution cases are highly sensitive and often involve multiple jurisdictions, intersecting regulatory regimes, and public environmental scrutiny. Marty Legal represents shipowners, charterers, and captains before coastal state courts and administrative bodies when facing accusations of illegal discharge at sea, such as unlawful degassing, bilge water discharge, or the emptying of bunkers in contravention of the MARPOL Convention. These cases frequently involve real-time evidence collection, shipboard inspections, satellite surveillance, and heavy reliance on the presumption of fault, making effective legal intervention both urgent and technically complex.

For example, we recently assisted a shipmaster prosecuted before a Mediterranean coastal authority for allegedly releasing fuel residues within a marine protected area. Our defence strategy included technical counter-expertise, review of voyage data recorder logs, and contesting procedural irregularities during the boarding inspection. Thanks to our intervention, the case was dismissed due to procedural defects and lack of conclusive evidence. We not only protect against punitive outcomes but also actively work to preserve the commercial integrity and operational continuity of your maritime enterprise.

Representation Before Maritime and Admiralty Courts

The Maritime Court (Tribunal Maritime) exercises jurisdiction over a wide range of maritime infractions, from failure to comply with collision regulations and exceeding speed limits in regulated zones, to operational and navigational breaches within port areas. Marty Legal, based in Marseille and well-versed in France’s maritime judicial structure, provides shipowners and captains with rigorous legal defence in these highly specialized courts. Our intervention covers both criminal proceedings and administrative sanctions, ensuring complete representation from investigation to trial.

Consider a vessel operator summoned before the Maritime Court of Marseille following a near-collision incident in congested waters, with AIS data and pilot testimonies presented as evidence. Marty Legal carefully reconstructs navigational sequences, engages expert hydrographers, and challenges procedural assumptions to assert the legality of the vessel’s manoeuvres. Our expertise extends to defending clients against violations of local port by-laws, rules to protect Posidonia, safety regulations, and reporting obligations, often negotiating mitigated penalties or procedural dismissals. Through meticulous case preparation and deep familiarity with maritime court protocols, we defend your professional reputation and protect your operational rights.

Defend Your Maritime Interests with Proven Expertise in Pollution and Admiralty Litigation

By choosing Marty Legal to represent you in pollution-related claims or admiralty court proceedings, you are securing a team with unmatched command of maritime law, proven litigation success, and unwavering commitment to defending maritime professionals against regulatory adversity.

Maritime law demands speed and precision, especially when pollution or port infractions arise. We act decisively to defend your rights and preserve your maritime operations.