1/86

Definition of “unit” in Article 141 of Greek Maritime Code, as applied to a cargo of soya bean oil

The vessel was chartered on a Tanker Voyage form governed by Greek law for the carriage of a cargo of soya bean oil. At the loading port, 10,500 tons were pumped into nine of the vessel’s centre tanks. However, cargo ullages evidenced a quantity of only 10,295 tons. It was ascertained, on opening the other (supposedly empty) tanks that the wing tanks contained 57,346 tons and the forward pump room contained 129,668 tons admixed with 46,26 tons of lubricating oil. It was agreed that during the sea voyage the cargo in the wing tanks would be transferred into No. 5 centre tank (then empty) and the mixture in the forward pump room would be transferred into the slop tanks. Three bills of lading were issued in respect of the 10,295 tons in the centre tanks and a fourth for the remainder.