Sealion Shipping Ltd and Another v Valiant Insurance Co (The “Toisa Pisces”) – Court of Appeal (Pill, Tomlinson and Gross LJJ) – 14 December 2012

Marine insurance – Loss of Hire cover – Vessel suffering loss of hire following three breakdowns of thruster motors - Whether first breakdown caused all subsequent losses – Whether break in chain of causation – Whether one breakdown or three breakdowns for purposes of deductible

The vessel Toisa Pisces was insured by the defendant insurers for Loss of Hire cover for the year commencing 20 May 2008. The owners made a claim under the policy arising out of a breakdown of the port azimuth bow thruster motor (“PAM”) on 25 February 2009, after which the vessel was placed off-hire by her charterers.