DOHA: A number of lawyers and arbitrators representing the engineering and maritime industry attended a seminar focusing on the mechanisms of arbitration in disputes. The one-day event was organised by Qatar International Centre of Conciliation and Arbitration (QICCA) yesterday at Qatar Chamber headquarters.
Ibrahim Shahbik, QICCA’s Assistant Secretary General, said that QICCA is keen to provide seminars that discuss arbitration-related different issues, noting that it highlights the New Qatari Arbitration Law.
He noted that arbitration process is based on a number of professional criteria and rules which should be taken into account. He affirmed that arbitration becomes a main means for settling disputes related to engineering and marine contracts and other economic activities. He noted that engineering arbitration has become a basic need to solve all disputes arising from the implementation of these contracts which may hinder progress of construction and building works.
Shabik pointed out to the marine arbitration which is a form of the commercial arbitration, stressing the importance of the marine arbitrator to be aware of all technical marine-related issues including operation of ships and their navigational and commercial activities.
For his part, the arbitrator Khalifa Al Mohannadi explained in his presentation mechanisms of solving marine disputes, saying that the marine dispute is any dispute, or claim governed by the maritime law, or those disputes that are arising in the context of maritime operations between persons and persons or between persons and any company. He noted that the any dispute related to the sea is considered a maritime dispute.
Al Mohannadi pointed out that the most prominent maritime disputes are maritime collision between (two ships), or between (a ship and an inland navigation boat). He reviewed the characteristics of maritime disputes, saying that they are divided into three forms; international, commercial and maritime in nature. He explained types of maritime disputes which include disputes arising from maritime transport, from transactions on ships, from contracts of shipping, handling and unloading.
Meanwhile, the arbitrator Abdulaziz Al Hammadi explained in his presentation mechanisms of solving engineering disputes saying: “Engineering arbitration is of a special nature because it is related to disputes of the implementation projects of large capitals.
