Lloyd's Maritime Law Newsletter

Conflict of laws – Forum non conveniens – Whether England proper place to bring claim against 10th defendant – Relevance of multiplicity of proceedings – Whether claimant entitled to sue 10th defendant in England

Charterparty – Delay in discharging – Whether vessel took usual and reasonable route – Whether breach of speed warranty – Whether vessel failed adequately to ventilate cargo – Whether vessel failed to fumigate adequately – Whether quarantine exception applied – Cause of delay in discharging

Charterparty – Hire – Anti-technicality clause – Whether owners entitled to serve anti-technicality notice in respect of earlier period of hire

Arbitration – Evidence – Vessel grounding whilst entering port – Owners bringing arbitration proceedings against charterers for breach of safe port warranty – Whether owners entitled to refer to Marine Accident Investigation Branch Report – Merchant Shipping Act 1995 and Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) Regulations 2012

Arbitration – Jurisdiction – Disputes arising under agreements for sale of gasoil – Whether court should determine questions of jurisdiction under Arbitration Act 1996, section 32 – Whether arbitration tribunal had jurisdiction

Charterparty – Time-bar – Charterers bringing arbitration proceedings against owners for breach of charterparty – Charterparty providing that all claims shall be extinguished unless notified in writing and accompanied by all available supporting documents within 12 months from completion of charter – Charterers making timeous claim but subsequently relying on document not sent with claim letter – Whether claim time-barred