Qingdao Huiquan Shipping Company v Shanghai Dong He Xin Industry Group Co Ltd – QBD (Comm Ct) (Bryan J) [2018] EWHC 3009 (Comm) – 25 September 2018

Practice – Anti-suit injunction – Shipowners and cargo receivers concluding settlement agreement containing London arbitration clause – Non-party bringing proceedings against shipowners in Chinese courts based on settlement agreement – Whether shipowners entitled to anti-suit injunction

On22 January 2014 the claimant owners concluded a settlement agreement with cargo receivers Emori (China) Co Ltd (Emori) settling certain disputes between them in relation to the delivery of a cargo of nickel ore to China (the Settlement Agreement). In essence, the Settlement Agreement involved the payment of sums by Emori to lift a lien over the cargo exercised by the owners following the default of the time charterers in paying hire.