London Arbitration 8/14

Charterparty – Demurrage – Whether laytime suspended at loading port – Freight – Whether obligation to pay 5 per cent balance of freight conditional on provision of “signed/stamped freight invoice” or on “breaking bulk” – Validity of notice of readiness at discharge port – Whether invalidity of NOR waived – Whether owners entitled to damages for detention – Lien on cargo – Whether owners entitled to exercise lien – Whether lien reasonably exercised – Shifting time

The vessel was chartered on an amended Gencon form for the carriage of a cargo of low ash metallurgical coke from Croatia to India. The owners brought arbitration proceedings claiming a balance of freight of US$40,943.90, admitted demurrage of US$165,176.17 (net of commission) and additional demurrage or damages for detention of US$288,880.33, together with interest and costs. The charterers denied liability.