Offshore Marine Services Alliance Pty Ltd v Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd and Another – Federal Ct of Australia (McKerracher J) [2017] FCA 333– 30 March 2017

General average – Liability to contribute – Whether liability limited to owner of benefited cargo – Whether fact that cargo suppliers were “on risk” in relation to benefited cargo sufficient to establish liability to contribute

Offshore Marine was the disponent owner of the barge JMC 2822 and the tug Miclyn Venture. In late November 2012 the tug and barge were in the Australian marine complex in Henderson, Western Australia in preparation for a voyage to Barrow Island, Western Australia, pursuant to a contract between Offshore Marine and Chevron Australia Pty Ltd (Chevron) to carry a cargo of construction materials.