Unicredit Bank AG v Euronav NV – QBD (Commercial Court) [2022] EWHC 957 (Comm) (Moulder J) – 28 April 2022

Charterparty – Shipper also charterer – Bill of lading – Novation of charterparty – Cargo discharged without production of bill of lading – Whether bill of lading governed relationship with shipper after novation – Claim by bank for misdelivery – Causation

Euronav was the owner of the vessel Sienna, which was chartered to BP for the carriage of a cargo of low-sulphur fuel oil intended for sale by BP to Gulf. By a bill of lading issued at Rotterdam and dated 19 February 2020, Euronav acknowledged shipment of the cargo in apparent good order and condition for delivery at Fujairah, UAE. The bill of lading was made out to BP or its assigns.