Personal bio

Summary:
Georgi comes from a mixed marine and legal background.
He has a life-long shipping career, starting of as a Deck Officer Cadet on board ships and progressing through the ranks to Captain, then moving to shore-based positions in shipping.
Georgi has received substantial legal training at leading London universities. He holds a Diploma in International Maritime Arbitration from the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), leading to Fellowship; a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) from the University of Westminster; and LLM in Maritime Law, Distinction, from the City University, London.

Employment:
In-House Legal Counsel /Marine & Technical Gen Manager
“K” Line Bulk Shipping (UK) Limited

In his day job, Georgi is an In-House Legal Counsel and Marine & Technical General Manager at “K” Line Bulk Shipping (UK) Limited, advising chartering and post-fixture operation desks on (i) legal matters – charter party drafting, dispute resolution, claims handling, loss prevention, compliance issues and commercial/legal risk management; and (i) marine matters – cargo stowage & carriage, nautical and engineering issues.
He is also in charge of marine insurance renewal, 3rd party shipmanagers supervision, ship OPEX budgeting & monitoring actual ship running cost, ship maintenance strategies and Dry Docking, projects / retrofit installations, identifying and selecting ship decarbonisation strategies.

Academic Qualifications:
2024 Diploma in International Maritime International Arbitrators (CIArb)
2018 Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) (University of Westminster, London)
2014 LLM in Maritime Law, Distinction (City University, London)
1986 MSc Nautical Science (Naval Academy “Nikola Vaptsarov”, Varna)

Professional Affiliation:
2025 Fellow of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb)
2022 London Shipping Law Centre, member
2021 London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA), supporting member
1999 Nautical Institute, member of the Institute’s London Branch Committee

Professional Awards / Achievements:
Won a 3-month’s internship with Thomas Cooper LLP (now Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP) – a prize given to him as the top student in the Carriage of Goods by Sea module 2013, City University, London
Rewrote two chapters in the latest Bulk Carrier Practice, 3rd edition, 2023: i.e. Ch.19 Carriage of Common and Typical Bulk Cargoes & Ch.20 Unusual Cargoes and Special Trades

Marine & Legal Expertise:
Georgi is a master mariner with command experience (sailed as master). Georgi has a hands-on experience with all matters marine, gained during his 13 years seagoing service, as he progressed through the ranks from officer cadet to captain, while serving on oil tankers, general cargo vessels and bulkers, trading world-wide.
Since moving to shore-based jobs, Georgi has gained a considerable experience in marine surveying, technical ship management, marine and commercial ship operations.
In his role as an in-house legal counsel, Georgi has amassed a wealth of legal experience and claims handling, in a wide range of areas.
His marine and legal expertise includes topics such as:
• Ship’s speed and fuel consumption (underperformance) claims;
• Ship Collisions;
• Safety of Navigation / Anchoring and Mooring best practice;
• Liability for Safe Port warranty breach;
• Liability for Carriage of cargoes / incorrect cargo properties declaration / Dangerous cargoes misdeclaration / Bulk cargo liquefaction / Cargo shortage;
• Liability for damage to Cargo cranes / Lifting gear / Deck machinery
• Bills of Lading issues;
• Charterers’ liability (e.g. for damage to ship by dangerous cargo / contribution to GA, etc.);
• Off-spec bunkers claims;
• Unpaid bunkers disputes due to charterers’ insolvency;
• Off-hire claims;
• Laytime & demurrage claims.
The list is not exhaustive.

Pledge:
Georgi will not accept an appointment if he is conflicted with either party to the dispute.
Once Georgi has accepted appointed as arbitrator, he will remain impartial, unbiased, fair and objective, regardless of which party has appointed him.
Georgi is committed to providing an efficient and cost effective arbitration process, leading to a prompt delivery of awards.