Limit of liability

Derek Luxford, of Hicksons, looks at shipowners’ limitation of liability and asks when does one incident become two?

Derek Luxford

Arecent judgment, in Strong Wise Limited v Esso Australia Resources Pty Limited (APL Sydney), by Mr Justice Rares in the Federal Court of Australia on the entitlement of shipowners to limit their liability under the 1976 Shipowners Limitation of Liability Convention has caused widespread interest and some controversy.