# AMOSC Files New €100m Claim Against Somalia Over Vessel Contract

> Somaliland Standard reported on 2020-08-16 that AMOSC filed new proceedings against Somalia seeking over €100 million for breach of a 2013 vessel contract.

- By: Editorial Team, Somali Construction Review (https://somaliconstructionreview.com/about)
- Published: 30 September 2026
- Format: News story (reported from one named public source)
- Publication: Somali Construction Review (https://somaliconstructionreview.com)
- Subject: Business and Costs
- Tags: contractor-competency, construction-risk, procurement
- Web version: https://somaliconstructionreview.com/blog/amosc-files-new-e100m-claim-against-somalia

## Key points

- On 2020-08-16, Somaliland Standard reported that AMOSC filed new proceedings against the Federal Republic of Somalia seeking over €100 million in compensation for breach of a 2013 patrol vessel contract.
- A tribunal ruling dated July 31, 2020 compelled AMOSC to pay the Federal Government of Somalia €31,551.42 in legal costs.
- The report does not establish what has happened in the case since that date.

On 16 August 2020, Somaliland Standard reported that Amo Shipping Company (AMOSC), a Cypriot company, had filed new proceedings against the Federal Republic of Somalia seeking over €100 million in compensation for breach of contract. The report describes a dispute over a 2013 contract to build and deliver six long-range patrol vessels.

The new case follows the termination of an earlier arbitration. According to Somaliland Standard, AMOSC notified the tribunal UNUM in the Netherlands that it was withdrawing its case against the Federal Government of Somalia and filing proceedings against the Federal Republic of Somalia instead. A tribunal ruling dated 31 July 2020, as cited by Goobjoog News, compelled AMOSC to pay the Federal Government €31,551.42 as reimbursement of legal costs. The government had sought €238,790, but the tribunal called that demand unreasonable and fixed a lower amount.

The report says the original arbitration began in August 2018 under Transport and Maritime Arbitration Rotterdam-Amsterdam rules, since succeeded by UNUM. AMOSC wrote to UNUM on 10 October 2018 notifying withdrawal from proceedings against the Federal Government. An attempt in September 2019 to recommence proceedings naming the Federal Republic of Somalia as respondent failed after the Federal Government declined, arguing the Federal Republic was another party.

Somaliland Standard reported that AMOSC seeks over €100 million in compensation for breach of contract, but the article includes a parenthetical figure of €66,000 without explaining the relationship between the two amounts. The report does not clarify whether the larger figure includes interest or other claims.

The article also states that the project cost stood at about €132 million. It reports that the Financial Governance Committee, chaired by the Finance Minister and including World Bank and IMF representatives, questioned the project's viability because the cost was equivalent to upwards of 95% of the then national budget. The Ministry of Defence and then Prime Minister Abdirashid Sharmarke pushed for the project, including seeking financial support from the UAE.

Somaliland Standard reported that Somalia defaulted from day one of the contract and subsequently declared it non-existent. The report does not establish whether any vessels were built or delivered, nor does it provide a current status for the new proceedings after 16 August 2020.

## Questions

### Which contractor filed new charges and what are the allegations?

Amo Shipping Company (AMOSC), a Cypriot company, filed new proceedings against the Federal Republic of Somalia seeking over €100 million in compensation for breach of a 2013 contract to build and deliver six long-range patrol vessels, according to Somaliland Standard.

### What is the legal and financial exposure for the Somali government?

Somaliland Standard reported that AMOSC seeks over €100 million, while a tribunal ruling dated 31 July 2020 compelled AMOSC to pay the Federal Government €31,551.42 in legal costs. The report does not establish any award to AMOSC.

## Sources

- [Somalia faces over €100m in deal default as Contractor files new charges](https://somalilandstandard.com/somalia-faces-over-e100m-in-deal-default-as-contractor-files-new-charges/) — Somaliland Standard, 2020-08-16