# Atlas Claims

> Atlas Claims is a London-based commercial claims, business-to-business (B2B) debt recovery and dispute resolution firm acting worldwide. Its founding specialism is maritime and shipping claims (demurrage, laytime, bunker disputes, charter party, off-hire, hire and freight). It acts both for businesses that are owed money and for businesses facing claims they dispute, and resolves matters by negotiation and settlement before court. The initial case review is free; fees are a success fee, fixed fee or monthly retainer agreed in writing. Available 24/7 for urgent matters. Atlas Claims is a trading name of ATLAS SOVEREIGN LTD (England & Wales, company no. 15597496). It is not a law firm, is not regulated by the SRA and does not conduct litigation; independent solicitors are engaged where court action is needed. It does not handle consumer debts.

## Key facts
- Urgent claims (24/7): urgent matters, approaching time bars and short-notice demands are attended to at any hour by WhatsApp or phone on +44 7429 535705; the operative deadline is identified, protective steps are confirmed in writing, and independent solicitors are engaged without delay where formal notices, proceedings or arbitration are required
- Claims strategy: every matter is conducted on a written claims strategy covering merits and evidence, quantum, time bars and notices, the counterparty, negotiating leverage and the escalation route (a commercial assessment, not legal advice)
- Website: https://atlas-claims.com/
- Email: contact@atlas-claims.com
- Phone and WhatsApp (24/7): +44 7429 535705
- Location: London, United Kingdom; acts worldwide (Europe, Turkey and Eastern Mediterranean, Middle East and Gulf, Asia, Africa, Americas)
- Clients: businesses only (B2B): shipowners, charterers, operators, commodity traders, bunker buyers, exporters, manufacturers, logistics firms, distributors, contractors, service firms
- Approach: free review, written engagement letter, claim preparation, without prejudice negotiation, documented settlement; escalation via independent solicitors only when commercially justified
- Fees: free initial review; success fee (percentage of amount recovered or saved), fixed fee for defined work, or monthly retainer; third-party costs only with client approval
- Firm profile (PDF): https://atlas-claims.com/atlas-claims-firm-profile.pdf
- Full text for AI systems: https://atlas-claims.com/llms-full.txt

## Services
- [Maritime & Shipping Claims](https://atlas-claims.com/maritime-shipping-claims.html): demurrage and laytime, bunker quality and quantity, charter party disputes, off-hire, unpaid hire and freight, S&P disputes, time bar management, LMAA arbitration preparation
- [Commercial Debt Recovery](https://atlas-claims.com/commercial-debt-recovery.html): overdue B2B invoices in the UK and abroad, aged and disputed receivables, statutory late-payment interest, payment plans with security
- [Disputed Liabilities & Claim Defence](https://atlas-claims.com/disputed-liabilities.html): overstated supplier demands, legal notices, statutory demands (with solicitors), set-off and counterclaims; fee can be linked to the amount saved
- [Trade & Commodity Disputes](https://atlas-claims.com/trade-commodity-disputes.html): quality and quantity, non-delivery, price and termination disputes, letter of credit issues
- [Demurrage Claims](https://atlas-claims.com/demurrage-claims.html): demurrage and detention claims prepared, checked and negotiated for owners, charterers and traders; time bars and laytime calculations
- [Freight Forwarder Debt Recovery](https://atlas-claims.com/freight-debt-recovery.html): unpaid freight, local charges, demurrage pass-through, storage and disbursements for forwarders, NVOCCs and logistics firms
- [US Port, Coast Guard & ECP Claims](https://atlas-claims.com/us-port-coast-guard-claims.html): commercial claims from US Coast Guard detentions, security agreements, Environmental Compliance Plan costs, allocation of fines and losses, and US port demurrage and detention disputes
- [International Debt Recovery](https://atlas-claims.com/international-debt-recovery.html): cross-border B2B recovery led from London with local agents and counsel

## About and process
- [How we work](https://atlas-claims.com/how-it-works.html): five stages from free review to signed settlement
- [Fees](https://atlas-claims.com/fees.html): success, fixed and retainer models compared
- [Sectors](https://atlas-claims.com/sectors.html)
- [The firm](https://atlas-claims.com/the-firm.html)
- [FAQ](https://atlas-claims.com/faq.html)
- [Glossary](https://atlas-claims.com/glossary.html): 43 shipping, claims and recovery terms
- [Contact](https://atlas-claims.com/contact.html)

## Free tools
- [UK late payment interest calculator](https://atlas-claims.com/tools/late-payment-interest-calculator.html): statutory interest (8% above the Bank of England reference rate) and £40/£70/£100 fixed compensation on overdue B2B invoices
- [Laytime and demurrage calculator](https://atlas-claims.com/tools/demurrage-calculator.html): time used, time on demurrage, demurrage or despatch amount
- [Container demurrage and detention (D&D) calculator](https://atlas-claims.com/tools/container-demurrage-detention-calculator.html): Demurrage and detention charges after free days, across up to three rate tiers and multiple containers.
- [Cargo claim time bar and notice deadline calculator](https://atlas-claims.com/tools/cargo-claim-time-bar-calculator.html): The last day to bring a cargo or contract claim under Hague-Visby, Hamburg, CMR, Montreal, CIM or the Limitation Act.
- [Carrier liability limit calculator](https://atlas-claims.com/tools/carrier-liability-limit-calculator.html): Hague-Visby, Hamburg, CMR and Montreal limits per kilo and per package, converted from SDR to your currency.
- [Off-hire calculator](https://atlas-claims.com/tools/off-hire-calculator.html): Hire deduction for the off-hire period, pro rata, plus bunkers consumed and other costs.
- [Claim settlement value calculator](https://atlas-claims.com/tools/settlement-value-calculator.html): Is the offer fair? Compare it with the risk-adjusted value of going to court or arbitration.
- [Bunker quantity calculator](https://atlas-claims.com/tools/bunker-quantity-calculator.html): Tank soundings to metric tons with ASTM Table 54B, compared with the BDN to size a short-delivery claim.
- [EU ETS shipping cost calculator](https://atlas-claims.com/tools/eu-ets-cost-calculator.html): CO₂ from fuel, voyage scope and phase-in, and the cost of EU allowances for a voyage or charter period.
- [Laytime statement calculator](https://atlas-claims.com/tools/laytime-calculator.html): A full time sheet: NOR and notice time, SHINC/SHEX, holidays, exceptions, demurrage and despatch.
- [Speed & consumption claim calculator](https://atlas-claims.com/tools/speed-consumption-claim-calculator.html): Time lost and fuel over-consumption in good weather, with “about” allowances and extrapolation.

## Guides
- [Bunker quantity disputes: how to check what was really delivered](https://atlas-claims.com/insights/bunker-quantity-disputes.html): Soundings, temperature and density, the cappuccino effect, mass flow meters, letters of protest and the short time limits in supplier terms.
- [When a customer becomes insolvent: what UK suppliers can still do](https://atlas-claims.com/insights/customer-insolvency-uk.html): Retention of title, proofs of debt, set-off, the continued supply rules, VAT bad debt relief and guarantees, for UK suppliers.
- [EU ETS and charter parties: who pays for emission allowances?](https://atlas-claims.com/insights/eu-ets-charter-parties.html): Who the "shipping company" is, the scope and phase-in, BIMCO's ETS clauses and the disputes we see over emission allowances.
- [Laytime terms explained: SHINC, SHEX, WWD and the rest](https://atlas-claims.com/insights/laytime-terms-explained.html): SHINC, SHEX, SATPM, unless used, weather working days, reversible laytime, despatch and "once on demurrage, always on demurrage", explained.
- [Notice of readiness: when is it valid, and what if it is not?](https://atlas-claims.com/insights/notice-of-readiness.html): When a notice of readiness is valid, what makes an "arrived ship", WIBON and WIPON clauses, and what an invalid NOR does to laytime and demurrage.
- [Preventing bad debt: the credit terms that make recovery easier](https://atlas-claims.com/insights/preventing-bad-debt-credit-terms.html): Credit checks and limits, terms that actually apply, retention of title, interest, guarantees, export security and a firm collection timetable.
- [Arresting a ship to secure a claim: what creditors need to know](https://atlas-claims.com/insights/ship-arrest-security.html): Which claims qualify, the "relevant person" test, sister ships, bunker suppliers, security and the risks of wrongful arrest.
- [Speed and consumption claims: how performance disputes are won and lost](https://atlas-claims.com/insights/speed-consumption-claims.html): The performance warranty, "about", good-weather days, weather evidence, extrapolation, owners' defences and deductions from hire.
- [Cargo shortage and damage claims: a practical guide](https://atlas-claims.com/insights/cargo-claims-shortage-damage.html): How cargo interests can build a cargo shortage or damage claim against carriers: notice, surveys, the Hague-Visby one-year time bar, limitation and choosing the right defendant.
- [Unpaid freight and hire: using liens on cargo and sub-freights](https://atlas-claims.com/insights/unpaid-freight-and-liens.html): How shipowners can use contractual liens on cargo and sub-freights to secure unpaid freight, hire and demurrage, and the risks of exercising a lien wrongly.
- [Container demurrage and detention charges: how to check and dispute them](https://atlas-claims.com/insights/container-demurrage-detention-charges.html): How shippers, consignees and forwarders can check container demurrage and detention invoices against the carrier tariff, free time and records, and when the charges can be disputed.
- [FD&D cover explained: how P&I clubs support commercial disputes](https://atlas-claims.com/insights/fdd-cover-explained.html): What freight, demurrage and defence (FD&D) cover is, what it typically pays for, its discretionary nature, and how shipowners and charterers can use it effectively.
- [Disputes with port agents: checking disbursement accounts](https://atlas-claims.com/insights/port-agency-disbursement-disputes.html): How owners and operators can reconcile port agents’ final disbursement accounts against proforma estimates and tariffs, and resolve disputed charges and unrefunded advances.
- [How to write a demurrage claim letter (with a model structure)](https://atlas-claims.com/insights/demurrage-claim-letter-template.html): A model structure for a clear, complete demurrage claim letter: voyage details, charter clause, laytime calculation, documents enclosed and payment request.
- [Disputed shipyard and repair invoices: how owners can respond](https://atlas-claims.com/insights/ship-repair-invoice-disputes.html): How shipowners and managers can review and dispute shipyard and ship repair invoices: quotations, variation orders, yard delay, set-off and contract notice periods.
- [Letter of credit discrepancies: why payments are refused and what to do](https://atlas-claims.com/insights/letter-of-credit-discrepancies.html): Why banks reject documents presented under letters of credit, the UCP 600 examination rules, common discrepancies, and how sellers can recover payment.
- [Demurrage vs detention: what is the difference?](https://atlas-claims.com/insights/demurrage-vs-detention.html): The difference between demurrage and detention in voyage charters and in container shipping, and what each means for claims, evidence and time bars.
- [Off-spec bunkers: how to build a bunker quality claim](https://atlas-claims.com/insights/bunker-quality-claims.html): Practical steps for shipowners and charterers facing off-specification marine fuel: notice periods, samples, testing against ISO 8217, damage evidence and negotiating with suppliers.
- [Off-hire under time charters: deductions and disputes](https://atlas-claims.com/insights/off-hire-claims.html): How off-hire works under time charters such as NYPE, the difference between net loss of time and period clauses, and how owners and charterers can avoid disputes over deductions from hire.
- [Statutory demands against companies: a guide for UK businesses](https://atlas-claims.com/insights/statutory-demands-explained.html): What a statutory demand is, the 21-day deadline and £750 threshold for companies, how a disputed debt is handled, and the risks of misusing statutory demands as a creditor.
- [Letters before action in B2B disputes: what a good one contains](https://atlas-claims.com/insights/letter-before-action-b2b.html): What a letter before action should include in a business-to-business debt or contract dispute in England and Wales, the pre-action rules that apply, and common mistakes to avoid.
- [How to choose a B2B debt recovery partner: 10 questions to ask](https://atlas-claims.com/insights/choosing-b2b-debt-recovery-partner.html): Ten questions finance directors and credit managers should ask before appointing a commercial debt recovery or claims firm, from fees and regulation to client money and escalation.
- [Claiming interest and compensation on late B2B invoices](https://atlas-claims.com/insights/late-payment-interest.html): How the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 lets UK businesses add statutory interest and fixed compensation to overdue B2B invoices.
- [Time bars in maritime claims: the deadlines that sink good claims](https://atlas-claims.com/insights/maritime-time-bars.html): Why demurrage, cargo and charter party claims are lost on contractual and statutory time bars, and practical steps owners and charterers can take to protect them.
- [Received a demand you dispute? What to do before you reply](https://atlas-claims.com/insights/responding-to-a-disputed-demand.html): Seven practical steps for UK businesses facing a supplier demand, legal notice or statutory demand they dispute, to protect their position and reach a fair settlement.
- [The demurrage claim checklist: what to assemble before you submit](https://atlas-claims.com/insights/demurrage-claim-checklist.html): A practical checklist of the documents and calculations owners and charterers need to present a complete, defensible demurrage claim.
- [Recovering a debt from a business in another country](https://atlas-claims.com/insights/cross-border-debt-recovery.html): How cross-border B2B debt recovery works in practice: governing law, jurisdiction, local agents, enforcement and why negotiation usually comes first.
- ["Without prejudice" explained: negotiating safely in a dispute](https://atlas-claims.com/insights/without-prejudice-negotiation.html): What the without prejudice rule means in England and Wales, when it protects settlement talks, and the common mistakes businesses make.