Navigating obstacles

Richard Cooper, Jim Cashman and Paul Miller, of HFW, consider the challenges facilitating remote evidence in admiralty proceedings

At first glance, the case of The Sakizaya Kalon and The Panamax Alexander [2020] EWHC 2604 (Admlty) appears unremarkable and unlikely to attract media attention. No areas of disputed law were put before the court nor were there any surprises in the judgment itself, which was almost purely based on applying the existing law to the judge’s findings of fact. Legally, the case did clarify a small but important point regarding how long before a collision a vessel can be at causative fault which, despite the judgment being 306 paragraphs long and addressing some complex technical points, seems to have been the only substantive legal question addressed by the court.