BPVOY 4 -- SHIP-TO-SHIP TRANSFER -- BPVOY4 CLAUSE 8 LANGUAGE --VLCC-TO-VLCC TRANSFER -- OWNER RIGHT OF REFUSAL -- Charterer Award
Charterer instructed the VLCC vessel to discharge to two other VLCC’s (floating storage units) via a ship-to-ship transfer. The Owner withheld their approval of the Vessels and Charterer was forced to lighter to smaller vessels instead. Charterer argued that the Owner had breached the charter by wrongfully withholding their approval.
BILLS OF LADING PHRASING -- APPARENT GOOD ORDER -- CARGO QUALITY -- CONDITION OF GOODS -- RETLA CLAUSE -- COGSA -- CONTRACT CONSTRUCTION -- Consignee Award
The Vessel was chartered to carry a cargo of steel pipes. At the loadport, the cargo was inspected and found to be in poor condition as stated in the Survey report and Mates Receipt, however, the Bills of Lading reflected "apparent good order". Consignee claimed for damages stemming from the misrepresented cargo condition in the Bills of Lading. Owner claimed that they were excused from liability under a protective “Retla clause” incorporated in the B/Ls.
GENCON -- CONDITION OF PERFORMANCE -- ADDITIONAL FREIGHT FOR REPLACEMENT VESSELS -- Owner Award
Charterer seeks compensation for the freight differential paid on substitute tonnage when the Owner failed to perform in their obligation to nominate two vessels as required in the charter party. Conversely, Owner counters that due to cargo issues (railcar allocation, export documentation, etc.) and berth operational issues, the Charterer would not have been able to supply the cargo even if the Owner complied with the Vessel nominations.
ASBA II -- GANGWAY FAILURE -- SEAWORTHINESS --BAD WEATHER -- DEMURRAGE -- Partial Owner Award
The gangway collapsed during the boarding of the Charterer’s mooring team causing injury and subsequent delays in berthing. Per Owner, the cause of the collapse was due to a sheared swivel pin from contact by the tug in adverse weather. Conversely, Charterer asserted that the condition of the swivel pin was pre-existing and combined with the weight of the team caused the failure.
COA -- CARBOEX SA -- LOUIS DREYFUS COMMODITIES SUISSE SA -- DEMURRAGE -- AMWELSH -- PORT CONGESTION -- STRIKE -- PUERTO DE FERROL -- SPAIN -- SPANISH -- HAULAGE STRIKE -- INDONESIA -- NOTICE OF READINESS -- Charterer Award
Four vessels under a Contract of Affreightment (COA) experienced delays because of port congestion resulting from a strike that had ended prior to arrival. Charterer claimed that this time should be exempted as delays stemming from a strike, while the Owner argued that this exemption was only applicable if the strike had delayed operations after a given vessel had berthed.
CHARTER CONSTRUCTION -- ADDITIONAL PORT NOMINATION -- NO LAYTIME ALLOWED TO OFFSET TIME COUNTING -- Owner Award
While the Vessel was en route to disport, the parties entered into an agreement to call an additional port, allowed allowed within the fixture, wherein the laytime was to run between the Vessel’s arrival at pilot station until dropping outward pilot. Charterer argued that this Clause was to be calculated in conjunction with the laytime allowance provision. Owner contended that this clause was independent of the other charter party laytime clauses.
SYNACOMEX -- "REACHABLE ON ARRIVAL" -- BREACH OWING TO ICE -- DETENTION -- WEATHER WORKING DAYS VS. LAYTIME EXCEPTIONS -- Partial Owner Award
Upon arrival at anchorage the Vessel was delayed 11 days due to ice that prevented her from reaching berth. Owner submitted a claim for detention on the basis that Charterer breached the "always accessible" obligation. Within their decision, the Panel outlines what time counts when a Charterer breaches their “reachable upon arrival” obligation in a charter that defines laytime by weather working days. Furthermore, Owner exercised a lien on the cargo and seeks demurrage compensation for a three-day delay at the disport while awaiting Charterer’s payment of the load port detention claim.
NYPE -- SPEED AND CONSUMPTION -- VESSEL UNDERPERFORMANCE -- FAIR WEATHER CLAUSE -- VOYAGES ASSESSED INDIVIDUALLY -- Charterer Award
Charterer withheld hire due to Vessel underperformance in two out of the 17 voyages over the course of the time charter. Based upon the express performance warranty including the phrase "all sea passages" and The Didymi principle, the Vessel’s performance was to be measured for each individual voyage, not over the entire charter.
PRO-FORMA CHARTERPARTY -- DRAFT RESTRICTION OWING TO EARTHQUAKE -- DEADFREIGHT -- DESPATCH FOR EARLY LOADING -- Partial Charterer Award, Partial Owner Award
An earthquake prior to the voyage changed the dimensions of the load port and the local port authority reduced the draft limit. In order to accommodate this change, the Vessel was forced to shortload her cargo and Owner filed a claim for deadfreight. Charterer counterclaimed for despatch for laytime saved by the Vessel in loading prior to laydays.
ASBATANKVOY -- EXTENSION OF LAYDAYS -- DEMURRAGE -- NO RESPONSE FROM CHARTERER -- FAILURE TO NOMINATE ARBITRATOR -- Owner Award
Charterer agreed to a laycan extension when it became clear that the Vessel would be unable to reach the loadport by the cancellation date. After the voyage, Owner submitted a claim for demurrage and Charterer disputed their calculation. Charterer did not respond to any further communication.