Angara Maritime Ltd v Oceanconnect UK Ltd and Anr (The “Fesco Angara”) – QBD (London Merc Ct)(HHJ Mackie QC) – 29 March 2010

Yash Kulkarni (Thomas Cooper) for the shipowners; Emma Hilliard (Chauncy & Co Solicitors) for the bunker suppliers.

Sale of goods – Bunkers supplied to time-charterers but not paid for – Ownership of bunkers remaining with bunker suppliers – Charterers redelivering vessel prematurely – Whether shipowners liable in conversion – Whether title to bunkers passed to shipowners on redelivery of vessel - Sale of Goods Act 1979 section 25(1) – Bailment - Whether shipowners in breach of duty as bailees

On 3 July 2008 the vessel Fesco Angara was time-chartered for what was intended to be a period of 12 months. Clause 40 provided: