Wood v. Associated National Insurance Co. Ltd. (The Isothel) - Supreme Court of Queensland (Full Court) - December 1984

Marine insurance - Whether shipowners’ recklessness constitutes “wilful misconduct” entitling insurers to avoid liability

The plaintiffs owned the vessel Isothel , a 13 metre diesel powered fishing vessel. The defendants had insured the vessel under a time policy. In May 1981 the Isothel sailed on a fishing trip with four people on board. Apart from the skipper (one of the plaintiff co-owners), the other three crew members were inexperienced and not competent to handle the vessel by themselves.