Lloyd's Maritime Law Newsletter

Charterparty – Vessel detained at Venezuelan port while waiting to load cargo – Whether charterers liable for financial consequences of detention.Arbitration – Appeal – Whether permission required to appeal arbitration award where charterparty provided that either party might appeal to High Court on any question of law.

Charterparty – Hire – Owners withdrawing vessel for non-payment of hire – Whether charterers in repudiatory breach – Damages – Rate of discount to be applied for accelerated payment and future risks – Interest.

Charterparty – Redelivery – Charterers purporting to redeliver vessel prior to contractual delivery time – Whether vessel in fact redelivered to owners

Arbitration – Jurisdiction – Arbitrator issuing further award under slip rule – Claimant challenging further award for lack of substantive jurisdiction – Whether court had jurisdiction to hear claimant’s application – Whether tribunal entitled to correct error under slip rule

Charterparty – Novation – Time charters novated after 18 months with substitution of different owners – Novated charters on terms of original charters with logical amendments “except … as presently performing” – Whether speed and performance warranties in original charters replaced with new warranties that vessels would continue to perform as they were performing at moment when novated fixtures were agreed

Agency – Contracts for supply of bunkers – Whether agency by estoppel established – Whether shipowner liable to bunker supplier for non-payment

Charterparty – Bribery – Shipowners seeking to enforce charterparty obligations against guarantor – Guarantor alleging charterparty procured by bribery – Guarantor relying on confession evidence – Shipowners alleging confession obtained by torture – Whether charterparty enforceable