Mount Isa Mines Ltd v The Ship "Thor Commander" – Fed Ct of Australia (Rares J) [2018] FCA 1326 – 29 August 2018

Carriage of goods by sea – Engine breakdown – Whether carrier in breach of contract of carriage – Whether contract of carriage was charterparty or bill of lading – Whether vessel was in need of salvage – Whether salvage settlement was reasonable – Whether cargo interests entitled to recover transhipment costs – Whether cargo interests liable to contribute in general average

On 20 March 2008 Mount Isa Mines Ltd (Mount Isa), a subsidiary of the Glencore International AG group, entered into a long-term agreement with another Glencore subsidiary whereby Mount Isa would purchase between 20,000 to 70,000 mt of copper anodes per annum for delivery to the Townsville Copper Refinery, which was operated by another Glencore subsidiary.