Montgomery McCracken Bolsters Maritime Practice in New York

Montgomery McCracken is pleased to welcome three attorneys to the Maritime and Transportation practice group in the firm's New York office. Eugene J. O'Connor and Timothy Semenoro join as partners and Robert E. O'Connor joins as an associate. All three were previously at the maritime law firm of Chalos O'Connor, LLP in New York.

Their arrival strenghtens the firm's capabilities in the area of maritime law and representation of oceangoing ship owners and operators and their insurers.


Eugene J. O'Connor Eugene O'Connor has nearly 40 years of experience in maritime and environmental law, and focuses his practice on marine pollution; litigation of marine casualties, such as collisions, groundings and fires at sea; marine salvage and general average; defense of cargo claims; and the arbitration of charter party disputes. He frequently counsels clients on the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, and has substantial experience in representing Responsible Parties with respect to oil spill responses and cleanup, coral reef groundings and restoration, natural resource damage assessments, defense of third party claims, and claims for reimbursement to the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund as administered by the U.S. Coast Guard through the National Pollution Fund Center. He has also represented terminal owners and operators in litigation involving crane accidents. More about Gene...	Timothy Semenoro Timothy Semenoro's practice includes marine casualties, the U.S. Limitation of Liability Act (Limitation Act) and Fire Statute, the U.S. Carriage of Goods by Sea Act (COGSA), general average, insurance defense, charter party and contract disputes, environmental liability and damages, maritime arrest and attachment and general admiralty and maritime law. He primarily represents international companies, vessel owners, charterers, Protection and Indemnity Clubs, Hull Clubs and insurers in complex, multiparty litigations; arbitrations; mediations; and appeals. Prior to becoming an attorney, he was a naval architect and marine engineer with CG International, Inc. More about Tim...	Robert E. O'Connor Robert O'Connor focuses his practice on maritime and environmental matters. He represents ship owners and operators in litigation relating to collision, allision and fire casualties, and Responsible Parties in agency actions and civil litigation relating to the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. He also counsels ship owners and operators on the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships, and MARPOL Annex VI Emissions Control Areas and fuel oil sulphur limits. Prior to becoming an attorney, he worked at Triangle Economics Research, LLC, an environmental economics research firm. More about Bobby...

Notable Representations

Represents owners and operators of vessels involved in major marine casualty litigation before trial and appellate courts including: MSC FLAMINIA (explosion and fire in the Atlantic, 2012); NEW DELHI EXPRESS (grounding in NY, 2006); RICKMERS GENOA (collision and fire in the South China Sea, 2005); ATHOS I (allision with an abandoned anchor in the Delaware River, 2004); DSV MR. SONNY (anchor dragging in Long Island Sound, 2002); NEW CARISSA (wreck in Oregon, 1999); BRIGHT FIELD (allision in New Orleans, 1996); RECIFE (fire in the Atlantic, 1991); and DAMODAR TANABE (fire in the Pacific, 1985).

Counsels Responsible Parties in connection with numerous oil spill incidents around the U.S. under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) including: GENMAR PROGRESS (2007); ANTHEA Y (2003); DREDGE STUYVESANT (1999); ANITRA (1997); NORTH CAPE (1996); and BOUCHARD B-155 (1993).

Counsels Responsible Parties in connection with numerous groundings on coral reefs under the OPA 90 in Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Florida, and Micronesia including: MELL SENTOSA (2011); VOGETRADER (2010); PORT STEWART (2009); MATTHEW (2009); MARGARA (2006); CAPE FLATTERY (2005); ATC 350 (1998); and FORTUNA REEFER (1997).

Represents an international energy company under a Contract of Affreightment to transport coking coal in a matter that was arbitrated before the U.S. Society of Maritime Arbitrators (SMA).

Represents a fleet owner and operator in connection with a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) investigation into the fleet's compliance with the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS), MARPOL Annex VI Emissions Control Areas (ECA), and fuel oil sulphur limits.

Connect with Montgomery McCracken:

Montgomery McCracken's Maritime and Transportation practice serves all sectors of the maritime industry including ship owners, charterers, pilots, cargo owners, shipyards, terminals, commodities traders, non-vessel operators and non-vessel operating common carriers. The multifaceted practice includes cargo and products claims; bankruptcy and restructuring; corporate and finance matters; sustainable growth; and defense of criminal investigations, including corporate compliance matters.

For the latest news and updates from our Maritime group, check out our Spring 2014 Maritime and Transportation Newsletter.

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