A time to claim – contractual demurrage time bars

Euronav NV v Repsol Trading SA (The MT “Maria”) [2021] EWHC 2565 (Comm); [2021] Lloyd’s Rep Plus 104

This case provided a renewed opportunity to consider the strict time bars for lodging demurrage claims in voyage charterparties: applicable clauses commonly require notification followed by full documentation of the claim within a matter of months, failing which the window of opportunity to claim is lost entirely. Here, the clause at issue provided for notification of demurrage claims within 30 days followed by full documentation within 90 days. The question was as to the starting point of the 30 days, where discharge had taken place in a time zone west of that of the owners and charterers, so that it had taken place at an earlier date.