Alianca Navegacao e Logistica Ltda v Ameropa SA (The “Santa Isabella”) – QBD (Comm Ct) (Andrew Henshaw QC sitting as a Judge of the High Court) [2019] EWHC 3152 (Comm) – 22 November 2019

Charterparty – Delay in discharging – Whether vessel took usual and reasonable route – Whether breach of speed warranty – Whether vessel failed adequately to ventilate cargo – Whether vessel failed to fumigate adequately – Whether quarantine exception applied – Cause of delay in discharging

The bulk carrier Santa Isabella was chartered on an amended Synacomex charterparty form for the carriage of a cargo of 44,000 mt of white corn/maize. The claimant owners brought claims against the defendant charterers for discharge port demurrage at Durban and Richards Bay, and associated expenses totalling US$757,561.66 following extensive delays to the discharge of the cargo.