Sonact Group Ltd v Premuda SpA (The “Four Island”) – QBD (Comm Ct) (Males J) [2018] EWHC 3820 (Comm) – 12 December 2018

Arbitration – Jurisdiction – Voyage charterparty containing London arbitration clause – Demurrage dispute settled by email exchange – Charterers failing to pay sum agreed – Owners bringing arbitration proceedings claiming sum agreed under settlement agreement – No provision for arbitration in settlement agreement – Whether arbitrators had jurisdiction over claim to recover agreed settlement sum

The vessel Four Island was chartered on an amended Asbatankvoy form to carry a cargo of fuel oil from Kavkaz to Novhodka, both Russian Far Eastern ports. The charterparty contained a London arbitration clause applying to ?Any and all differences and disputes of whatsoever nature arising out of this Charter?.