Glencore Energy UK Ltd and Another v Freeport Holdings Ltd (The “Lady M”) – QBD (Comm Ct) (Popplewell J) [2017] EWHC 3348 (Comm) – 21 December 2017

Carriage of goods by sea – Barratry – Chief engineer deliberately setting fire to vessel – Relevance of chief engineer’s state of mind – Whether shipowners entitled to rely on Hague Rules exemptions of “fire” and “any other cause”

The claimant cargo owners (Glencore) claimed against the defendant owners of the vessel Lady M. The claim arose out of a fire which started inside the engine control room of the vessel. Glencore sought to recover damages for breach of the contracts of carriage contained in or evidenced by the bills of lading, alternatively in bailment.