Seearland Shipping Management BV v Standard Tankers Bahamas Ltd (The "Elisewin") - Before John F Ring Jr, Louis P Sheinbaum and Peter J Zambito, Chairman - 21 June 2011

Demurrage – Delay caused to oil tanker by master refusing to sign backdated bill of lading – Bill of lading backdated in accordance with Nigerian “8:00 am Rule” – Whether delay counted as laytime

On 10 January 2008 Seearland Shipping Management, as disponent owners of the vessel Elisewin, chartered her to Standard Tankers on the ExxonMobil Tanker Voyage Charterparty 2005 form for the carriage of 130,000 cubic metres of crude oil and/or condensate from 1 or 2 safe port(s) West Africa (Nigeria-Angola Range) for loading, with discharging at 1 or 2 safe ports/places US Gulf, including STS/Lightering and/or Loop, including the Bahamas, but excluding Florida. The charterparty further provided: