Lloyd's Maritime Law Newsletter

Contract – Letter of indemnity – Cargo delivered without production of bill of lading against LOI – Shipowner bringing claim under LOI – Clause 38 of voyage charter providing that period of validity of any letter of indemnity to be three months from date of issue – Whether clause 38 incorporated into LOI – Whether shipowners’ claim under LOI time-barred

Sale of goods – Contract for sale of gasoil CIF Constanza – Payment to be made against shipping documents or letter of indemnity – Letter of indemnity signed by seller and by seller’s bank – Buyer paying price but receiving no product – Buyer suing seller and seller’s bank – Whether contract in fact on CIF terms – Whether seller entitled to damages – Measure of damages – Whether seller’s bank entitled to indemnity or contribution from seller

Arbitration – Delay – Whether arbitration tribunal entitled to strike out proceedings for inordinate and inexcusable delay – Serious irregularity – Whether tribunal guilty of apparent bias