T A Shipping Ltd v Comet Shipping Ltd (The “Agamemnon”) - QBD (Com Ct)(Thomas J) - 25 November 1997

Laytime - Notice of readiness - Whether valid when tendered before vessel’s arrival at Baton Rouge anchorage - Whether subsequent arrival of vessel at Baton Rouge anchorage had any effect on the notice

The vessel Agamemnon was chartered on the Gencon form for a voyage from one good and safe berth Baton Rouge to one good and safe berth Brisbane with a cargo of uncoated steel pipes. The vessel arrived at the South West Pass at 2300 hours on 5 October 1995 and gave notice of readiness. The South West Pass was a customary waiting area for vessels wishing to enter the Mississippi river and to proceed to one of the ports in the river. It was about 170 miles from Baton Rouge and was not part of the port of Baton Rouge. The vessel arrived at the Baton Rouge general anchorage at 1025 hours on 7 October. No further notice of readiness was given then. The vessel eventually berthed at 2030 hours on Sunday 8 October and commenced loading at 1015 hours on 9 October.