The Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration (SCMA) and the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC) have established the SCMA–SIMC maritime mediators panel to fortify the city-state’s status as a premier hub for maritime and global trade dispute resolution.
Thirteen practitioners from various nations – including China, Denmark, Malaysia, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States – have been appointed to form the inaugural joint panel. This collaborative effort aims to streamline the nomination of qualified mediators for the resolution of maritime and shipping disputes, while also advocating for the broader adoption of commercial mediation within the maritime industry.
George Lim, senior counsel and chairman of the SIMC, said: “Regardless of where the parties come from, mediation provides a speedy and inexpensive way of resolving the dispute and allows parties to focus on their core businesses.”
The SIMC, recognised for its expertise in conducting cross-border mediations, boasts a track record, with most cases concluding in a single day and enjoying a more than 70% settlement rate.
Chao Hick Tin, senior counsel and chairman of the SCMA, said: “Maritime and international trade disputes have evolved in complexity and quantum. These industry sectors are sophisticated users of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services and expect a fair, comprehensive, and cost-effective ADR process to resolve disputes.”
The 13 panel members include Winston Quek, Bazul Ashhab, Christopher Lau, Prem Gurbani, Lee Wai Pong and Chan Leng Sun.
