WINSON OIL TRADING PTE LTD V UNITED OVERSEAS BANK LTD AND ANOTHER (THE "MAERSK KATALIN")

[2025] SGCA 42, Singapore Court of Appeal, Sundaresh Menon CJ, Steven Chong JCA, Ang Cheng Hock J, 5 September 2025

Contracts (bills of lading) – Misdelivery – Delivery of cargo without presentation of bills of lading – Bank as lawful holder of bill of lading – Letters of indemnity replacing bills of lading in payment terms of letters of credit – Whether bill of lading holder would have consented to delivery – Ratification – Waiver – Damages – Causation – Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1992, sections 2 and 5

The plaintiff bank UOB claimed as holder of bills of lading against the defendant shipowner, Maersk, for the misdelivery of a cargo of gasoil sold to Hin Leong (HL) by Winson Oil Trading Pte Ltd (Winson).