Ocean Prefect Shipping Ltd v Dampskibsselskabet Norden AS (The “Ocean Prefect”) – QBD (Comm Ct) (Teare J) [2019] EWHC 3368 (Comm) – 6 December 2019

Arbitration – Evidence – Vessel grounding whilst entering port – Owners bringing arbitration proceedings against charterers for breach of safe port warranty – Whether owners entitled to refer to Marine Accident Investigation Branch Report – Merchant Shipping Act 1995 and Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) Regulations 2012

On 10 and 11 June 2017 the British-registered vessel Ocean Prefect ran aground in the course of entering the port of Umm Al Quwain in the UAE. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), an independent inspectorate within the Department of Transport, investigated the circumstances of the grounding to see what lessons could be learnt with regard to improving the safety of shipping.