Lloyd's Maritime Law Newsletter

Charterparty – Contract of affreightment – Long-term contract for carriage of iron ore pellets from Brazil to Malaysia – Bursting of dam stopping production of iron ore – Owner claiming damages from charterer for failure to make shipments following dam burst – Whether charterer entitled to rely on force majeure clause – Whether owner entitled to substantial damages

Charterparty – Bareboat charter – Charterers contracting to maintain vessel and keep her “with unexpired classification of the class indicated in Box 10” – Whether classification obligation a condition or innominate term of charter – Whether owners entitled to withdraw vessel following expiry of class certificate

Carriage of goods by sea – Limitation of action – Damage to cargo – Cargo owner seeking to bring cargo claim against carrier after one-year limitation period – Whether timeous claims made by non-party and by cargo insurers against carrier had effect of stopping accrual of limitation period – Whether cargo owners’ claim should be dismissed in limine – Hague-Visby Rules, article III rule 6