Antilles Steamship Co. Ltd. v. American Hull Insurance Syndicate (The Alchemist) - U.S. Ct. of Appeals Second Circuit (Timbers, Newman & Cardamone C.JJ.) - 5 April 1984

Marine insurance - English custom and practice applicable in hull claim for cost of removing cargo

An explosion occurred aboard the vessel Alchemist , carrying chemicals from the United States to Antwerp. One of the chemicals, GAA, had suddenly and explosively polymerized for reasons unknown. Extensive damage was caused to the ship, and some of the chemicals escaped from their tanks into the cofferdam. As a result of the polymerization, the GAA had hardened in its tank and it took some 30 days to get the tank cleaned. At the top of the tank was a mixture which could be shovelled out, but as the work progressed deeper, the polymer became less rubbery and much harder and more difficult to dig out.