ITIC settles off-hire dispute

International Transport Intermediaries Club (ITIC) recently settled a claim brought against a ship manager for failure to maintain its obligations under a technical management contract, leading to liability for costs incurred when the vessel was denied permission to berth by port authorities in Australia. The manager was responsible for a bulk carrier which called regularly at an Australian port to load iron ore. The master had notified the manager of a problem with the winch used for the vessel’s mooring rope which, although still operational, needed its worn pinion gear replaced.