Krishnakumar joined the Directorate General of Shipping, Government of India,
through the UPSC and served for 24 years, retiring as Director and Shipping Master
in May 2023. He holds an LL.B. (1998), an LL.M. in International Shipping and Air
Law (2007), and a second LL.M. in International Maritime Law (2010) from the
IMO–IMLI, Malta. He is the recipient of the REMPEC Marine Environment Law Prize
and a Lloyd’s Register Educational Trust Scholar (2009–10).
He has extensive expertise in International Maritime Law, Law of the Sea, Maritime
Safety and Security, Marine Environmental Law, Dry and Wet Shipping, Maritime
Claims and Ship Arrest, and maritime legislative drafting.
Enrolled as an Advocate in June 2023, he trained under Senior Advocate P. V. S.
Giridhar before moving into Admiralty practice. He is currently working as an Senior
consultant at Callidus Legal, handling matters in Admiralty and Maritime Law, Civil
and Corporate Law, Marine Environmental Law, and Multimodal Transport Law,
along with drafting and vetting shipping contracts and manning agreements.
He advises on issues involving Indian and foreign flag vessels, charter party
disputes, cargo and marine insurance claims, ship collisions, wreck removal,
maritime liens, P&I matters, seafarer wage and compensation claims, cruise
passenger and crew claims, ship sale and purchase, and shipbuilding contracts,
including compliance for RPSL companies and Maritime Training Institutes under the
STCW Convention.
He practices before the High Courts of Bombay and Kerala, has both trial and
appellate experience, and is a member of the Bombay Bar Association and Kerala
High Court Advocates Association. He is also an IIAM-qualified Arbitrator and
Mediator.
