London Arbitration 22/98

Carriage of goods by sea - Owners refusing to deliver cargo unless original bills of lading presented - Whether owners acted unreasonably in refusing to discharge cargo

The vessel was chartered under the NYPE form. She carried a cargo of prime concast slabs under two bills of lading. Prior to her arrival at the discharge port in the United States the charterers had sent the owners’ brokers a signed letter of indemnity covering the discharge of the cargo without the bills of lading. They had given no previous indication of any intention to request such discharging.