The Starsin

Homburg Houtimport BV and others v Agrosin Private Ltd and others, The Starsin [2003] UKHL 12

The long-awaited decision of the House of Lords in The Starsin has recently become available. Lord Millett began his speech by endorsing the observation that had been made by the trial judge, Mr Justice Colman, that it would strike anyone unfamiliar with maritime law as quite extraordinary that there should have grown up an immense body of decided cases devoted to identifying the company with whom the cargo owner had contracted for the carriage of his goods by sea. This was another such case, but, arguably, the more important aspect of the decision relates to the interpretation of a Himalaya clause which is commonly included in bills of lading.