MarineLiens and CIArb Form Alliance

Marine Liens Ltd., has formed an alliance with London-based Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) to assist in the resolution of disputes between maritime contractors or suppliers and vessel owners world-wide. Innovative forms of online dispute resolution will be used to mediate and/or arbitrate disputes. The year-old MarineLiens.com, a forum for posting and searching maritime lien claims, maintains its own online resolution process. Once a claim of lien is posted, notification is sent to the owner of the vessel, who then has the opportunity to refute. Notification of rebuttal is sent to the claimant, who then has 30 days to respond. If s/he does not respond, the claim is automatically marked as settled. Should the claimant respond to the vessel owner’s challenge, the claim stands and the dispute must be resolved outside of the Web site. MarineLiens.com encourages parties who are unable to resolve liens through its Web site to seek any available outside resources to facilitate settlements. The CIArb has developed an online dispute resolution process that dovetails well with the Marineliens.com process. The CIArb’s tailored procedure and capped fee structure provides for resolution of maritime lien claims through mediation and arbitration—all through the Internet.