Bringing together Financial, Commercial, Technical and Legal Knowledge to Serve as an Arbitrator in the Maritime Industry

A unique combination of academic prowess, teaching and vast experience in commercial shipping (FICS), ship building & conversions (FRINA), marine engineering (FIMarE), dispute resolution (FHKIArb, MCIArb) and senior management roles defines Jagmeet Makkar's career.

Jagmeet Singh Makkar is an Educator, Shipping & Energy consultant and a maritime arbitrator. He has been in the shipping industry for over thirty-five years. Jagmeet graduated in Marine Engineering in 1981, following which he was at sea with reputable companies between 1981 and 1988, sailing in various capacities on-board the vessels with his last position being that of a Chief Engineer. Jagmeet was then posted ashore as a ship manager with KC Maritime, going on over the next eight years to oversee shipbuilding projects in Korea, Japan and China, along with overseeing commercial operations. In his time at Noble Group, in very senior positions, Jagmeet worked as the Co- Head of Chartering & Global Head of Shipping Assets with responsibility for joint ventures, long term projects, shipping assets, India chartering business, operations and risk management. Jagmeet is a supporting member of the London Maritime Arbitrators Association, a fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators, a member of the Hong Kong Maritime Arbitrators Group, as well as a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Jagmeet, through his firms, SkillsPlus and Pastiche Holdings, offers educational lectures, workshops and seminars including bespoke (as per clients’ needs) risk management, soft skills, commercial skills and legal aspects of shipping and trade, which require a thorough understanding and varied experience of the shipping industry. The professionals that stand to benefit from this education come from all walks of shipping industry, from commodity trade, corporate finance, legal, chartering, ship owning, operating, ship management and risk management (hedging through physical and derivatives). He has also developed joint capacity building programs with the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, East Asia Branch (Shipping Contracts Management & Introduction to International Arbitration) as well as with the Academy of International Dispute Resolution & Professional Negotiation (Maritime Contracts & Introduction to Mediation). A copy of the flyers of these programs is attached herewith that will show the in-depth theoretical and practical knowledge of the key maritime contracts that Jagmeet possesses. Through Pastiche Holdings, Jagmeet offers services as a consultant and a shipbroker, thus remains fully abreast with the contemporary shipping practices. 

Learning and broad-based knowledge acquisition never stopped with Jagmeet. Since his graduation, he studied from various universities and institutes of repute as part of the executive development programs. At the age of 57, Jagmeet recently graduated (MSc Energy, Trade and Finance), as a full-time student, from the prestigious Cass Business School, (City, University of London) achieving First Position with distinction and as a life member of Beta Gamma Sigma Society. This is a testimony of his dedication to education and skills enhancement. 

He is a regular speaker at various international events and has contributed to a number of publications. Some of these international events include Dry Cargo Summits, Coaltrans, Marine Money, Intercem, Maritime HR & Crew Management Summits etc.

With his commercial and technical background, legal understanding and arbitration practice and procedure knowledge, he will be a positive contributor to the SCMA as its panel arbitrator.