Unimarine S.A. v. Canadian Transport Co. Ltd. (The Catherine L) - Q.B.D. (Com.Ct.) (Bingham J.) - 8 December 1981

Separate Arbitrations - Arbitrator’s discretion on costs

Ceres Hellenic Shipping Enterprises Ltd. were the owners of the vessel Catherine L. They chartered her to A/S Gerrards Rederi who in turn chartered her to Canadian Transport Co. Ltd. (CTC), who in turn chartered her to Unimarine. All the charters were on the NYPE form and on substantially the same terms. The last charter, by CTC to Unimarine, was for a single time charter trip to Karachi. The Catherine L sailed to Karachi on Unimarine’s orders in December 1975. In April 1976 she entered dry-dock where bottom damage was discovered. Ceres claimed that the damage was due to grounding at Karachi. The claim was not admitted and arbitration proceedings were begun.