Charterparty - Cargo claim – Charterers alleging short-shipment of cargo of steel plates in bundles – Whether shortfall of cargo – Evidential value of documentation - Whether charterers wrongly arrested vessel – Whether owners entitled to damages for wrongful arrest

London Arbitration 3/10

The ship was chartered to carry a cargo of “min/max 2972 mts steel plates in bundles”. The charterers contended that there had been a short-shipment, and they arrested the vessel at the discharging port as security for their claim. The owners denied that there had been any short-shipment, and counterclaimed (a) a balance of account and (b) damages for wrongful arrest.