Lloyd's Maritime Law Newsletter

Charterparty – Charterers failing to pay hire promptly – Owners treating charterers’ conduct as repudiatory – Owners claiming accrued hire up to termination of charter and for damages for charterers’ breach – Summary judgment

Carriage of goods – Combined transport – Defendant arranging for combined transport of computer accessories from Hong Kong to Finland – Cargo delivered without production of original bills of lading – Cargoes ultimately delivered to shipper’s end buyer – Whether defendant in breach of contract – Whether shipper suffered loss

Carriage of passengers – Recreational diver falling on deck of dive support boat and subsequently dying after diving from boat – Widow bringing action for damages – Whether boat operator liable under Athens Convention, article 3(1) – Whether defect in boat – Whether fault or neglect by operator

Carriage of goods by sea – Bills of lading – Whether documents of title or mere receipts

Conflict of laws – Representative proceedings – Cruise ship affected by outbreak of Covid-19 – Proceedings brought on behalf of US and UK passengers – Cruise ship operators applying for stay of proceedings in reliance on exclusive jurisdiction and class action waiver clauses in terms and conditions – Whether clauses incorporated into passage contracts – Whether Australia clearly inappropriate forum – Whether stay should be granted

Charterparty – Nomination of discharge port – Charterers nominating discharge port but subsequently nominating different port – Whether subsequent nomination breach of charter – Vessel proceeding to subsequently nominated port – Whether owners entitled to freight for carriage to originally nominated port – Whether charter varied – Estoppel – Waiver – Unjust enrichment