Alan Weigel is a member of our Maritime Emergency Response Team (“MERT”).
Alan Weigel focuses his practice on all aspects of commercial and insurance litigation and arbitration, with particular emphasis on the maritime industry. Recent engagements include the successful defense of claims filed against an oil spill response contractor in the Deep Water Horizon multidistrict litigation, the successful defense of a yacht repair arbitration claim by a shipyard against a yacht owner, and the recovery of a $1.5 million breach of contract arbitration claim on behalf of a commodities dealer.
Alan maintains an active litigation and arbitration practice focused on domestic and international maritime, commercial, and insurance matters.
Maritime Casualty Investigation, Litigation, and Arbitration
Alan has represented ship owners worldwide in more than 50 investigations of maritime incidents and casualties. Alan has also represented ship owners involved in litigation and arbitrations arising from vessel collisions, allisions, groundings, oil spills, and cargo damage. He has extensive experience in the innovative use of electronic evidence to obtain favorable outcomes. The investigations and litigations include:
- The alleged improper operation of oily water separators on a wide variety of vessels, including cruise ships, container ships, and tankers.
- Coral reef, pipeline, and cable damage claims arising from groundings and improper anchoring.
- Casualties involving a vessel sinking and the loss of multiple shipping containers resulting from heavy weather.
- Casualties involving multiple vessel collisions resulting in significant hull damage and sinking.
Maritime Limitation of Liability Actions and Vessel Arrests
Complementing his casualty and arbitration work, Alan has significant experience filing and challenging limitation of liability actions and vessel arrests.
- Filed and litigated limitation actions for a ferry operator whose vessel was involved in an allision resulting in multiple personal injuries and a ship owner whose vessel sank after being involved in a collision.
- Filed and litigated the arrest of a vessels involved in a three vessel collision and a fleet of barges at the center of a contract dispute.
Vessel and Yacht Repair Contract Disputes and Arbitrations
Alan has represented ship and yacht owners in a wide range of disputes with shipyards arising from construction and repair contracts.
- Represented an owner whose barge was damaged by a hurricane while undergoing repairs at a shipyard in Mexico.
- Successfully defended a yacht owner in an arbitration with a shipyard over a breach of a repair contract.
- Successfully defended a barge owner in an arbitration with a shipyard over a construction contract warranty claims.
- Successfully represented a ferry owner in litigation with a shipyard involving the breach of construction contract for six new ferries.
Contract and Charter Party Disputes and Arbitrations
Alan has represented ship owners, carriers, and commodities dealers in the arbitration of a wide range of disputes arising from charter parties, bills of lading, vessel management contracts, and commodities purchase and sale contracts. He has successfully defended claims and obtained awards in arbitrations held under the rules of the Society of Maritime Arbitrators (“SMA”) and the American Fats and Oils Association (“AFOA”).
- Handled SMA arbitration claims involving cargo contamination, wetted cargo, contaminated bunkers, and unsafe ports.
- Handled AFOA arbitration claims involving force majeure and breach of sales contracts.
Outside the Firm
Alan is a 1979 graduate of the United States Naval Academy and a 1987 distinguished graduate of the United States Naval Postgraduate School. During his twenty-year career as a submarine officer in the United States Navy he attained the rank of Commander and developed focused skills as both a deck officer and engineer, as well as in deep ocean search and salvage. He commanded a Deep Submergence Vehicle and served ashore in a variety of staff positions.
Alan is the President of the Connecticut Chapter of the Naval Academy Alumni Association and sails southern New England waters in his 30 foot sloop.