LOUIS DREYFUS & CO. v. LAURO.

(1938) 60 Ll.L.Rep. 94

KING'S BENCH DIVISION.

Before Mr. Justice Branson.

Charter-party-Expected ready to load "about 15th/18th November" - Failure of vessel to arrive at port of loading until Dec. 6-Claim by charterers for damages for breach-Arbitration -Award that charterers were entitled to sums for rent charges and cables - Case stated - Whether the words "expected ready to load under this charter-party about 15th/18th November" amounted to a warranty that the vessel would be ready at her loading port at a date between Nov. 15 and Nov. 18-Finding of umpire that the word "about" should in no case extend the date beyond Nov. 22; that the owners were honest but overoptimistic in their calculation of the date of the expected readiness to load; and that Nov. 26 was the earliest reasonable date of readiness to load in the circumstances as they were known by the owners when the charter-party was fixed-Meaning of "about."