Tagged: Vol. 20 No. 3

NYPE -- ANTICIPATORY BREACH -- WHETHER CHARTERERS ENTITLED TO GIVE VOYAGE ORDERS TO TRANSIT GULF OF ADEN -- OWNERS ASSERTING THAT PERMISSION REQUIRED -- WHETHER OWNERS IN REPUDIATORY BREACH -- Owner Award At dispute is whether Charterer was entitled to terminate the time charter contract with the Disponent Owner because permission by the head owner was required if Charterer instructed the Vessel to transit the Gulf of Aden (GOA) – an area of piracy for which additional war risk premium was payable. Although GOA transit ability was a hard requirement by Charterer in the time charter negotiations with the Disponent Owner, it was not stipulated in the contract between Disponent Owner and head owners.

WHETHER VESSEL "IN EVERY WAY FITTED FOR THE VOYAGE" -- SUITABILITY OF VESSEL’S MOORING EQUIPMENT FOR THE LOADING INSTALLATION -- REPUDIATORY BREACH -- DETENTION AND DAMAGES -- Charterer Award The Vessel arrived at loadport without the necessary equipment to operate safely at the shipper’s loading installation. Charterer cancelled the charter after the Vessel was viewed as unfit for the voyage. Owner claimed damages for Charterer’s rejection.

VOYAGE CHARTER -- CALCULATION OF TIME BAR DATE -- CHARTERPARTY LANGUAGE -- MEANING OF "FINAL DISCHARGE" -- NO CARGO LOADED -- REPUDIATORY BREACH -- Partial Owner Award Prior to loading, Charterer cancelled the charter after the Vessel was deemed unfit. When Owner waited over three months from that notice to formally submit a claim for damages, Charterer argued that it was time barred.

GENCON -- WHETHER LAYTIME SUSPENDED AT LOADPORT -- FREIGHT PAYMENT ON “SIGNED/STAMPED FREIGHT INVOICE” OR “BREAKING BULK” -- NOR VALIDITIY -- WHETHER INVALIDITY OF NOR WAIVED -- WHETHER OWNERS ENTITLED TO DAMAGES FOR DETENTION -- CARGO LEIN -- WHETHER CARGO LIEN REASONABLY EXERCISED -- Owner Award Owner is seeking compensation for balance of freight, demurrage, and detention. Charterer rejected the Vessel’s NOR tendered during port traffic delays due to the breakdown of a dredger; denied liability on balance 5% freight due based on Owner failing to comply with a C/P clause stipulating that freight be payable after receipt of “signed/stamped freight invoice” on Owner’s official letterhead but always before breaking bulk; and, denied demurrage at disport based on the fact that the SOF showed a second NOR and thus holding Owner bound by that. In turn, Owner exercised a lien on the cargo at disport awaiting payment of freight, consequently claiming detention and/or demurrage.