Who we are

1890s

Founded in 1889, Nordisk’s purpose was to protect the interests of Nordic shipowners, including from unfair charter party terms, and addressing broader interests of the shipping industry. An early challenge was the extreme congestion of tall ships in Santos, Brazil, where ships waited months to unload. Through diligent legal efforts, Nordisk secured compensation for many shipowners, establishing its reputation for effective advocacy.

1900s

Nordisk focused on reforming charterparty clauses and promoting standardized agreements. They played a significant role in creating the Baltcon charterparty, a cornerstone document for BIMCO in 1908. Additionally, Nordisk started publishing a collection of maritime court and arbitration decisions, known as Nordiske Domme i Sjøfartsanliggender, in 1900. It has ever since been a crucial resource for maritime law in the Nordic region.

1910s

World War I saw Nordisk actively involved in releasing vessels detained by combatant nations, winning several cases in Germany and the UK. Post-war, we successfully negotiated compensation from Germany for Norwegian ship losses, securing a substantial NOK 30 million, reflecting the association's growing influence in international maritime affairs.

1920s

The post-war era led to a boom in the world fleet, but the economic downturn in 1921 resulted in many ships being laid up. Nordisk engaged in international efforts to establish mutual treaties to prevent double taxation, greatly influencing U.S. legislation that exempted foreign shipowners from certain taxes, a testament to their expanding international role.

1930s

The 1930s were marked by economic challenges, notably at the Danish yard Burmeister & Wain, which faced financial difficulties. Nordisk handled numerous cases related to ice damage to ships in Leningrad during the harsh winter of 1930-31. By the end of its first 50 years, on the eve of WWII, Nordisk had managed 55,000 cases, reflecting its crucial role in maritime legal services.

1940s

The onset of World War II intensified Nordisk's caseload with over 800 war cancellation cases. The association's staff, including Johannes Jantzen who served from 1889 to 1946, worked tirelessly to protect the interests of the members. It took great skill and courage to manage the conflicting orders from the elected authorities of the Nordic countries and those of the Nazi occupying forces. Some of the Nordisk lawyers went to London and New York to assist with war efforts, particularly managing Norwegian ships for Allied service through Nortraship. 

1950s

The Nordic fleet saw significant growth, tripling in size in the decade. The “Norwegian Sale Form” was launched in 1956. Nordisk was involved in the drafting, and have been similarly involved in all subsequent revisions. The form was so named because Norwegian owners in those days would order newbuildings (and later sell them) rather than buy vessels second-hand.

1960s

Nordisk became increasingly involved in issues related to the new liner trades from the early 1960s, including major liner conference cases regarding Skibs A/S Viking Line’s trades to the USA and trades to Brazil for Nopal Line.

Nordisk was also involved in documentary work, including assisting in drafting the 1962 standard Norwegian shipbuilding contract.

1970s

This decade was marked by extensive negotiations for newbuildings and arbitration cases that would influence maritime law. Notably, Nordisk represented clients in groundbreaking cases such as the “Fernbay” and “Wingull,” which established important precedents in shipbuilders’ obligations and liabilities.

1980s

The 1980s were tumultuous, with the tanker crisis and war and political risks. The Falklands War saw merchant ships requisitioned, the Tanker War saw hundreds of ships attacked, and Nordisk also acted for the owners of the “Germa Lionel”, which was unlawfully arrested by the Gaddafi regime in Libya in 1984, as well as the arbitration case following the unwarranted six-month detention of the “Chemical Rubi” in Nigeria from late in 1984. 

1990s

Following the “Exxon Valdez” oil spill, Nordisk focused on supporting members in the evolving legal landscape, particularly the U.S. “OPA 90” regulations. In this period we were also actively involved in shaping and responding to international regulations, including the mandatory introduction of double hulls in tankers and the ISM Code.

2000s

The shipping boom led to unprecedented rates and a surge in ship orders, creating a cycle of highs and market recessions. It was followed by a bust from 2008. Nordisk managed numerous legal cases stemming from these fluctuations and increasingly supported members in negotiating charter parties, MOAs, as well as shipbuilding and conversion contracts. We were also increasing our focus on Asia with an office in Singapore.

2010s

Nordisk addressed the growing trend of green ship recycling and was deeply involved in piracy cases off Somalia, highlighting our capacity to handle complex international maritime issues. The association also tackled numerous sanction-related cases, adapting to the rapidly changing global legal environment. One case where Nordisk was involved is that of the “Taiko”, which was transporting weapons-grade chemicals out of Syria. Nordisk was also involved in the development of key standard contracts in the industry, including BIMCO Demolishcon and Norwegian Saleform 2012.

2020s

The current decade has been shaped by global challenges such as the covid pandemic and the geopolitical tensions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Nordisk has adapted by enhancing its sanctions advisory services and continues to support its members through various international crises, demonstrating resilience and foresight in its legal strategies.