Odfjfell Seachem A/S v Continentale Des Petroles et D'Investissements and Anr (The "Bow Cedar") - QBD (Com Ct) (Nigel Teare QC sitting as a Deputy Judge of the High Court) - 15 December 2004

Charterers repudiating voyage charter after failing to provide cargo - Charterparty containing time bar provision - Whether time bar provision applied to owners' claim for damages - Whether owners entitled to claim demurrage as part of damages claim - Free pratique and commencement of laytime - Probable length of contractual voyage

On 20 August 2002 the claimants chartered their vessel to the defendants on an amended BPVOY4 form for the carriage of a cargo of jet fuel, gasoline and gas oil from Bahrain to Cotonou, Benin for a lumpsum freight. At 0130 on 27 August the vessel tendered notice of readiness and free pratique was granted at 1030 the same day. Laytime commenced to run on 27 August and expired on 30 August.