N Z Michalos v. The Food Corporation of India (The Apollon) - Q.B.D. (Com. Ct.) (Bingham J.) - 13 October 1982

Baltimore Berth Grain Form - Vessel’s draft too great to enter berth for discharge - Whether notice of readiness valid

The vessel Apollon was chartered on the Baltimore Berth Grain Form C to carry a cargo of wheat or sorghums from an Argentinian port to an Indian port. One of the issues in the case was whether the vessel was ready to discharge when she tendered notice of readiness, even though she subsequently required to be lightened so that her draft could be sufficiently reduced to enable her to get alongside a berth. The relevant charterparty clauses provided: