Vessel Building Agreement for UNH

The University of New Hampshire engaged Pierce Atwood to negotiate a vessel building agreement for the design and construction of a sophisticated 45-foot steel catamaran research vessel. UNH provided our real estate attorneys with a contract from the boat builder. Under significant pressure to revise the agreement quickly and gain buy-in from both sides, our real estate attorneys collaborated with lawyers in our admiralty and maritime, business, construction, and state and local tax practice groups. Our interdisciplinary attorney team was able to quickly finalize a form of agreement that was acceptable to both parties and included additional protections for our client. The catamaran will be designed by a New Zealand firm and constructed by a boat building company in Washington state. UNH’s Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping will use the vessel for research.