Northern Shipping Company v Deutsche Seereederei GmbH and Ors (The ‘Kapitan Sakharov’) - Court of Appeal (Auld, Brooke and Hale LJJ) - 3 March 2000

Dangerous deck cargo in container exploding and causing fire - Fire igniting unventilated flammable cargo stowed below deck leading to loss of vessel - Whether vessel unseaworthy - Whether shipowners exercised due diligence

On 4 July 1993 the claimants’ container vessel Kapitan Sakharov was carrying containers of the first and second defendants (‘DSR’) and third defendants (‘CYL’) on a voyage from Khor Fakkan, near the entrance to the Arabian Gulf, to other ports in the Gulf. Shortly before midday a container on deck containing a dangerous cargo exploded, causing a fire on deck which spread below, resulting in the sinking of the vessel. All the contracts of carriage were governed by the Hague Rules.