EAST Inc. v. M/V Alaia - U.S. District Court (Eastern District of Louisiana) (Schwartz D.J.) - 16 November 1987

Whether owner bound by time charter where charterparty not signed - Whether time charterer can assert maritime lien before cargo has been loaded

The plaintiffs chartered the vessel Alaia from Advance Co. Inc. on the NYPE form. The charterparty contained a London arbitration clause. At about the same time the plaintiffs entered into two voyage subcharters for the vessel.