MEDITERRANEAN FREIGHT SERVICES LTD. v. BP OIL INTERNATIONAL LTD. (THE “FIONA”)

[1994] 2 Lloyd's Rep. 506

COURT OF APPEAL

Before Lord Justice Nourse, Lord Justice Hirst and Lord Justice Hoffmann

Carriage by sea - Dangerous cargo - Unseaworthiness - Carriage of cargo of fuel oil - Explosion occurred while vessel preparing to discharge - Whether explosion occurred because fuel oil contaminated with residues from previous cargoes - Whether owners consented to shipment of dangerous cargo - Whether owners failed to exercise due diligence to make vessel seaworthy - Hague-Visby Rules, art. III, rr. 1, 2, art. IV, r. 6. Unseaworthiness - Carriage by sea - Carriage of cargo of fuel oil - Explosion occurred while vessel preparing to discharge - Whether vessel unseaworthy - Whether owners failed to remove residues of previous condensate cargo from vessel - Whether owners failed to ensure that heating coils did not leak - Hague-Visby Rules art. III, rr. 1, 2, art. IV, r. 6.