Category: U.S. Maritime Cases

Seachem Tankers, Ltd. v. Hurrport, Inc. (The “Santa Maria”) – SMA No. 3347, 17 Mar 1997

VEGOILVOY -- DEMURRAGE -- TRANSSHIP -- STATEMENT OF FACTS -- PART CARGO -- Charterer Award In order to reduce their demurrage claim, the Charterer referenced the Owner’s transshipper’s Statement of Facts clause which states that demurrage would be apportioned between Charterers in the ratio of their part cargo onboard.
To access this content, you must either Log In or Subscribe.

Resource Materials Corporation v. Cambria Tankers, Ltd. (The “Martha A.”) – SMA No. 3352, 5 Mar 1997

VEGOILVOY -- BERTH -- PART CARGO -- TERMINAL -- DEMURRAGE -- Owner Award Upon arriving at the nominated Berth 2 for discharge, the Vessel was rejected at berth because of having a low flash part cargo for another Charterer. The Owners therefore deemed it unsafe and demanded another berth nomination. Conversely, the Charterer argued that the berth was safe and that it was the Owners’ responsibility to know their cargo’s compliance to the terminal’s regulations.
To access this content, you must either Log In or Subscribe.

Texaco Panama, Inc. and Texaco Overseas Tankship, Ltd. v Exmar NV and AS Seateam (The “Moselle”, “Menantic”, “Aristotle S. Onassis”, and “Hamlet”) – SMA No. 3312 (Consolidated Arb.), 29 Oct 1996

ASBATANKVOY -- ARBITRATION -- DETENTION -- CHARTER PARTY -- TIME CHARTERER -- VOYAGE -- LACHES -- TIME-BAR -- Partial Owner Award The Owners began arbitration to recover detention damages from four separate charter parties that the Time Charterers had contracted. The Vessel was idle for extended periods between these voyages instead of being utilized. On the other hand, the Charterers rejected the claims basis laches and time-bar breaches.
To access this content, you must either Log In or Subscribe.

Enron Gas Liquids, Inc. v. Petroleo Brasileiro SA “Petrobras” (The “Gas Enterprise” and “Hudson River”), SMA No. 3315, 31 Oct 1996

ASBATANKVOY -- ARBITRATION -- DEMURRAGE -- LAYTIME -- BERTH -- CHARTER PARTY -- VOYAGE -- Buyer Award This arbitration centered upon two separate claims for demurrage. In the first case, the Buyer and Seller agreed that laytime would begin upon berthing if the Vessel was late. But because the Vessel did not arrive on time, it was given an unfavorable berth rotation with no Buyer repercussion, which the Sellers now claim as demurrage. The second dispute was over whether a legal charter party existed for the voyage.
To access this content, you must either Log In or Subscribe.

Norsk Olje AS v. SAB Trading Commercial Exportadora SA (The “Blankvann”) – SMA No. 3327, 11 Nov 1996

ASBATANKVOY -- BERTH -- TERMINAL -- LINE HANDLER -- STRIKE -- DEMURRAGE -- LAYTIME -- Owner Award The Vessel was unable to berth at the Charterers’ terminal because of a line handler strike. The Owners argued that delays should be held as demurrage because the Charterers did not supply a berth "reachable upon arrival." The Charterers challenged this claim by classifying the strike as a delay “…over which the Charterer has no control, such delay shall not count as used laytime.”
To access this content, you must either Log In or Subscribe.

Valeswood International Co., Ltd. v. Bear Stearns Ny, Inc. (The “Belle Haven”) – SMA No. 3307, 9 Oct 1996

ASBATANKVOY -- VOYAGE -- DEMURRAGE -- TIME-BAR -- ARBITRATION -- SHIFTING TIME -- Owner Award The Charterer argued that the Owner’s six-year post voyage demurrage claim was time-barred and that the Owner was subsequently responsible for costs stemming from the untimely arbitration. But if the case was not deemed time-barred, then the Charterer asked for a demurrage reduction basis the "grossly excessive" shifting time.
To access this content, you must either Log In or Subscribe.

Clarendon, Ltd., Mark Rich & Co., and Adam Maritime Corp. v. Carina International Shipping Corp (The “Sobral”) – SMA No. 3277, 26 Jun 1996

ASBATANKVOY -- LINES -- CARGO -- TERMINAL -- BERTH -- PARCEL -- CHARTER -- DEMURRAGE -- HEDGE LOSS -- FREIGHT -- Owner Award Due to clogged Vessel lines, the Vessel could only receive the first cargo parcel at a much slower rate than the terminal’s potential output. So, fearing additional slowdowns, the terminal forced the Vessel off berth to clean her lines before loading a second parcel and simultaneously chartered another vessel to load the third parcel. The Owner drafted a demurrage claim for off berth cleaning time while the Charterer counterclaimed for hedge loss, reduced market value, and freight compensation.
To access this content, you must either Log In or Subscribe.

Sancho Maritime, Ltd. v. Citgo Asphalt Refining Company (The “Condor”) – SMA No. 3268, 7 May 1996

ASBATANKVOY -- GENERATOR -- DISPORT -- PUMP -- TERMINAL -- COAST GUARD -- ARBITRATION -- BERTH -- Charterer Award Because the Vessel’s generator was damaged en route to disport, the Owner wanted to revise the discharge process in order to compensate for lost pumping power. The terminal wanted US Coast Guard approval for the new procedure before pumping was allowed. The USCG subsequently rejected the Vessel and the Owners began arbitration to recover demurrage expenses for de-berthing and re-berthing delays.
To access this content, you must either Log In or Subscribe.

Elmadonna, Inc. v. Trifinery, Inc. (The “Felicity L.”) – SMA No. 3235, 20 Nov 1995

LAYCAN -- CHARTER PARTY -- LOADPORT -- LAYDAY -- BERTH -- DEMURRAGE -- ETA -- REFINERY -- DAMAGES -- Partial Owner Award Because the Owners advised the Charterers that the Vessel would arrive within laycan, the Charterers did not terminate the charter party before the cancellation date. The Vessel then arrived at loadport after the last layday and likewise incurred berthing delays which the Owners claimed as demurrage. The Charterers blamed the delay on the Owners’ failure to produce a good faith ETA and counterclaimed for refinery damages from the late delivery.
To access this content, you must either Log In or Subscribe.

Dorval Tankships Pty. v. Hurrport, Inc. (The “Uznadze”) – SMA No. 3237, 5 Jan 1996

VEGOILVOY -- ARBITRATION -- DEMURRAGE -- ARBITRATOR -- Owner Award This shortened arbitration dispute arose from the Charterers neglecting to respond to any of the Owners’ requests for demurrage payment. The Charterers did not respond to arbitration proceeding nor nominate an arbitrator.
To access this content, you must either Log In or Subscribe.