Universe Tankships v. Burmah Oil Tankers Ltd. (The Universe Explorer) - Before: Richard H. Sommer (Chairman), Donald M. Kennedy, and Nicholas J. Healy Jr. - 15 June 1984

Vessel delayed by Nigerian port authorities because of previous call in South Africa - Whether charterers entitled to place vessel off hire and claim damages for lost revenue

The vessel Universe Explorer was chartered to Burmah Oil under a tanker time charterparty for a period of 15 years. In August 1979 the vessel was en route to Rotterdam after loading in the Arabian Gulf. Unknown to the charterers, the vessel received stores by helicopter off Cape Town, South Africa, on 11 August. On 6 September Burmah ordered the vessel to proceed to Forcados, Nigeria for loading after discharge in Rotterdam.