Braganza v BP Shipping Ltd and Anr (The "British Unity") - QBD (Admlty Ct)(Teare J) - 30 May 2012

Contract - Employment contract providing for payment of death benefits except where employer formed opinion that death was result of wilful act - Whether claimant entitled to contractual death benefits

Mr Renford Braganza was the chief engineer of the oil tanker British Unity owned by the first defendant. Mr Braganza was employed by the second defendant. On 11 May 2009 the vessel was in the mid-North Atlantic in the course of a voyage from Sweden to New York. At some time between 0100 and 0700 he disappeared.